Heavy rains pounding Nairobi in the past/FILEThe government has announced seven measures to strengthen the country’s preparedness for the anticipated October-December (OND) El Niño rains.
The government asked Kenyans to remain vigilant as above-normal rainfall is expected across most parts of the country.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said the rains could trigger flooding, drowning, injuries and fatalities, displacement and isolation of communities, disease outbreaks and disruption of essential services.
Other anticipated impacts include damage to roads and critical infrastructure as well as losses of crops, livestock and livelihoods.
The government said some counties, particularly in Western, Nyanza and North Eastern regions, could experience an early onset of the rainfall season.
“To mitigate the risks, the government is implementing a National Contingency Plan developed jointly with national and county government agencies, humanitarian partners, security agencies and other disaster management stakeholders,” the ministry said.
The first measure is the mapping of flood and other weather-related hotspots.
The government said the exercise has identified areas particularly vulnerable to flooding and other impacts of heavy rainfall to guide preparedness, evacuation and response interventions.
Priority areas include riverine and low-lying areas, coastal regions, highlands and landslide-prone zones, arid and semi-arid lands, northern Kenya and urban centres prone to flooding.
Roads and transport infrastructure likely to be affected have also been identified across several regions, including North Eastern, Tana River, Coastal, Western/Nyanza, Rift Valley, Turkana, Nairobi, Central and Eastern.
The second measure involves unclogging and desilting drainage systems, culverts and other water channels to improve water flow and reduce urban flooding.
The government said choke points have been identified, with agencies including the Kenya Urban Roads Authority working to clear affected sections.
Solid waste and garbage management is also being strengthened through initiatives including Climate WorX.
The third measure focuses on evacuation preparedness.
The government said awareness campaigns on the evacuation of people living on riparian land and other high-risk areas are ongoing, while temporary holding grounds have been identified for people who may be displaced.
“Water levels in rivers and other water bodies are also being monitored, particularly around major dams and communities living along river banks.”
The fourth measure involves inspection of critical infrastructure.
Relevant agencies are assessing bridges, roads and critical utilities in flood-prone areas to identify vulnerabilities and undertake preventive interventions before the rains intensify.
The fifth measure is the strengthening of community-level early warning systems.
The government said Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Nyumba Kumi structures will be used to ensure timely information reaches communities, especially those in high-risk areas.
Public sensitisation on disaster preparedness and appropriate responses before, during and after heavy rainfall will also be intensified.
The sixth measure is the pre-positioning of emergency relief supplies.
Food, non-food items and emergency medical supplies are being stored at strategic locations to facilitate rapid response in the event of displacement or other emergencies.
The government is also strengthening coordination among National Government Administration Officers, county governments, the Kenya Red Cross Society, the National Drought Management Authority, security agencies, health workers and other disaster management stakeholders.
The seventh measure is the strengthening of rapid response teams.
The teams will be on standby to undertake search and rescue operations, evacuations and post-disaster assessments whenever required.
“First responders from various agencies are ready to respond whenever called upon,” the Ministry said.
The National Disaster Operations Centre and county disaster management teams will coordinate the response throughout the rainfall season.
However, the government cautioned that preparedness does not eliminate the risks associated with heavy rainfall.
“Preparedness should not be mistaken for an absence of risk,” the Ministry warned, noting that heavy rainfall could quickly overwhelm drainage systems, rivers and critical infrastructure in already vulnerable areas.
The government urged residents living along river banks, riparian reserves, low-lying areas and locations prone to flash floods and landslides to heed evacuation advisories.
“We urge those living along river banks, riparian reserves, low-lying areas, areas prone to flash floods and landslides, and other identified high-risk locations to heed evacuation advisories and move to safer ground when directed to do so,” the Ministry said.
Members of the public have also been urged to report blocked drainage systems, rising water levels, damaged infrastructure and other emerging hazards to relevant authorities.
