The Ministry of Interior and National Administration announced on Monday morning the activation of the National Contingency Plan, coordinating round-the-clock search-and-rescue operations and emergency services ahead of forecasted heavy rains. Key agencies including the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), and National Youth Service (NYS) are prepared to manage evacuations, with designated displacement centers and standardized registration systems in place to track and assist affected populations. The government emphasized readiness to scale interventions based on the severity of impacts, including alternative transport routes and air support via the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) where needed.
To address public health risks, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and Incident Management System (IMS) are operational, focusing on disease surveillance and prevention of waterborne and vector-borne infections. Supply chains for nutrition commodities and water-treatment products are secured, while sanitation assessments and water-quality monitoring are intensified in vulnerable areas. Food security measures include pre-positioned stocks in 10 priority counties—Tana River, Garissa, Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Wajir, Mandera, and Turkana—alongside agricultural advisories and livestock disease surveillance to safeguard livelihoods.
County-level coordination is led by Governors and County Commissioners through Disaster Risk Management Committees and Emergency Operations Centres, with sub-county teams leveraging community partners for localized response. The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) oversees national and county-level efforts, ensuring alignment with sector-specific priorities. Humanitarian partners, including the UNHCR, continue coordinating refugee operations at Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei under the Department of Refugee Services (DRS).
The World Meteorological Organisation anticipates a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) alongside strengthening El Niño conditions from September to November, prompting the government to maintain close monitoring through NDOC and county structures. Officials reiterated commitment to updating emergency plans as conditions evolve, emphasizing preparedness to protect Kenyans from climate-induced hazards.