Cabinet forms special committee to prepare for forecast El Niño rains
The committee, chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, was approved during a cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi, as the government stepped up preparations to minimise the potential impact of the anticipated rains on lives, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The cabinet has today, June 30, 2026 established an Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on El Niño Preparedness and Response to coordinate Kenya’s readiness for forecast moderate-to-strong El Niño rains expected later this year, amid warnings that the country faces an elevated risk of severe flooding and other weather-related disasters.
The committee, chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, was approved during a cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi, as the government stepped up preparations to minimise the potential impact of the anticipated rains on lives, infrastructure and livelihoods.
According to the cabinet, the committee will oversee the implementation of a comprehensive national contingency plan covering flood mitigation measures, evacuation and shelter arrangements, drainage clearance, reinforcement of vulnerable roads and bridges, and the pre-positioning of emergency equipment, relief supplies and medical stocks in high-risk areas.
The move comes after climate experts identified Kenya among countries at risk of experiencing a powerful El Niño event later this year, warning of an increased likelihood of above-normal rainfall, flooding and extreme weather across parts of the country.
Authorities have urged national and county governments, emergency agencies and communities to begin early preparedness to reduce the humanitarian and economic impact of the expected weather conditions.
A dispatch from State House said the committee’s formation is intended to ensure coordinated action across government agencies and avoid a repeat of previous El Niño seasons, which caused widespread flooding, displacement of thousands of families, destruction of homes and public infrastructure, disruption of transport networks and significant loss of lives in several counties.
The committee is expected to coordinate preparedness efforts across ministries, county governments and disaster response agencies to ensure timely interventions before the onset of the long rains, while monitoring implementation of mitigation measures in vulnerable regions.
The government said the proactive approach is aimed at strengthening national resilience and improving emergency response capacity ahead of the anticipated El Niño season.
