DP party Justin Muturi/HANDOUT

Former Attorney General and Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi has urged President William Ruto to put the country on an emergency preparedness footing amid the emerging threat of El Niño.

Muturi warned that Kenya could face a national crisis if the Government fails to prepare early, citing existing pressure on food security, crop production and the health sector.

“The emerging threat of El Niño demands presidential leadership, not political theatre,” Muturi said.

In a statement Wednesday, the former National Assembly Speaker called on Ruto to convene relevant national and county authorities, establish a clear command structure, identify high-risk areas and secure emergency resources.

He also urged the Government to require responsible institutions to demonstrate their readiness to respond to the anticipated weather threat.

Muturi said the country should not wait until extreme weather has already caused widespread damage before taking action.

“We cannot wait for hospitals to be overwhelmed, crops destroyed, families displaced and livelihoods wiped out before Government begins scrambling for a response. Preparedness must come before disaster, not after it,” he said.

The DP leader also criticised what he described as the Government’s focus on political mobilisation and campaign activities at a time when Kenyans could be facing a significant weather emergency.

He said the President’s responsibility was to protect citizens and safeguard the country, particularly when millions of Kenyans could be exposed to risks affecting their food, health, homes and livelihoods.

“Government must move from campaigning to governing, from speeches to preparedness, and from political mobilisation to national mobilisation,” Muturi said.

He further urged Ruto to personally take charge of the preparedness process and ensure the country is equipped to respond to the highest-impact scenario.

“There will be time for campaigns, rallies and electoral calculations. There will be time for political competition. But when millions of Kenyans face a foreseeable threat to their food, health, homes and livelihoods, the President’s place is not on top of the campaign car. It is at the command centre of the Republic,” Muturi said.

Muturi said the potential weather threat should be treated as a national preparedness matter, with resources, personnel and response mechanisms put in place before disaster strikes.

His remarks come amid concerns over food security, crop losses and disruptions in the health sector, which he said a high-impact weather event could compound.

The former Attorney General maintained that early preparation would help minimise loss of life, property destruction, and disruption of livelihoods.

“The campaign can wait. Kenya cannot. The political season can wait. The safety of Kenyans cannot,” he said.