Nairobi Senator Edwin W. Sifuna has urged the national government to urgently roll out a comprehensive preparedness strategy ahead of the looming El Niño rains, warning that failure to act could expose Kenyans to severe humanitarian consequences.
Sifuna called for the immediate publication of a national El Niño preparedness and response plan, the establishment of well-equipped emergency evacuation centres, and strict transparency in the use of disaster response funds.
“We must take the looming threat of El Niño very seriously. The national government should urgently publish a comprehensive El Niño preparedness and response plan, establish adequately equipped emergency evacuation centres, and ensure full transparency and accountability in the management and use of all funds allocated for mitigation and response efforts," Sifuna said.
His remarks come against a backdrop of Kenya’s long history of climate-related flooding disasters, which have repeatedly exposed gaps in preparedness and emergency response systems.
The 1997–1998 El Niño event remains one of the most devastating in the country’s recent history. Heavy and prolonged rainfall led to severe flooding across multiple regions, including parts of the Rift Valley, Coast, and Western Kenya. Roads were cut off, bridges collapsed, and transport networks were paralyzed for weeks. Thousands of families were displaced, while outbreaks of waterborne diseases were reported in flooded settlements due to contaminated water sources.
Since then, Kenya has continued to experience recurring flood emergencies during heavy rainfall seasons. In several counties, flash floods and river overflows have destroyed homes, submerged farmland, and wiped out livestock—deepening food insecurity in already vulnerable communities. Urban areas have also been affected, with poor drainage systems contributing to deadly flooding in informal settlements.
In recent years, major flood events have displaced tens of thousands of people, forcing many into overcrowded temporary shelters where access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare remains limited. Critical infrastructure, including roads, schools, and health facilities, has also suffered repeated damage, slowing recovery and increasing economic losses.
Humanitarian agencies and climate experts have repeatedly warned that Kenya’s vulnerability to flooding is being intensified by climate change, rapid urbanization, and weak drainage infrastructure in high-risk areas. Against this backdrop, Sifuna’s warning adds to growing calls for stronger national coordination, early warning systems, and sustained investment in disaster preparedness to reduce future loss of life and property.
