Kenya activates El Niño contingency plan, readies food stocks in 10 priority counties

Kenya's Ministry of Interior and National Administration said on Monday 5 October that the government had activated the National Contingency Plan to deal with the El Niño rains expected this season, Citizen Digital and The Star reported. The plan includes evacuation centres, search-and-rescue teams and food stocks placed in 10 priority counties.

The response is coordinated through the National Disaster Operations Centre, according to Capital FM. The ministry described the October–December rains as above normal, Xinhua reported on 5 October.

The Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross Society and National Youth Service will carry out search-and-rescue operations, Citizen Digital reported. The Star reported that they will work round the clock where required.

The 10 priority counties for pre-positioned food stocks are Tana River, Garissa, Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Wajir, Mandera and Turkana, according to Citizen Digital, The Star and KBC.

Designated evacuation and displacement centres have been set up with standardised registration systems to identify, track and assist people displaced by floods, The Star reported. Citizen Digital reported that alternative routes will be activated where roads are disrupted, and that air support will be mobilised through the National Disaster Operations Centre where required.

On health, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and the Incident Management System have been deployed to coordinate emergency health services and disease surveillance, according to The Star. Citizen Digital reported that water-quality surveillance is to be intensified and sanitation facilities in potentially affected settlements assessed. Xinhua said water-treatment products have been distributed to affected communities, and that a National Crisis Communication Centre handles early warnings and public updates.

Citizen Digital reported that learning institutions are being assessed for their condition and functionality, and that learning materials will be safeguarded where schools are needed as displacement sites. It added that location-specific agricultural advisories will guide farmers.

Governors, working with county commissioners, will coordinate preparedness, response and recovery through County Disaster Risk Management Committees, while sub-county Disaster Management Teams will coordinate local preparedness, early warning and first response, Capital FM reported. Citizen Digital reported that Nairobi County has held a disaster management simulation and plans a multi-agency response involving road authorities, the Kenya Red Cross, the fire department and police.

"Government agencies are continuing with preparedness measures and the public is encouraged to closely follow updates on heavy rainfall, river and dam levels, flooding and accessibility of critical roads," the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by Xinhua on 5 October.