Kenya’s October–December 2026 rains: the state of public preparedness

A multi-agency team was reported to be assessing readiness around Lakes Baringo and Bogoria; the available report does not identify completed protective works.

Flood hotspots were reported mapped in Chepalungu, Sotik and lower Bomet East, with public sensitisation and health-risk planning under way.

Reporting on 10 September documented rain damage to homes and businesses and resident concern about preparedness, without identifying a fresh county measure in the review window.

A current report documented secondary dykes along River Nzoia and the return of farming on previously flooded land in Budalang’i, while noting that some areas remain exposed.

The county states that it started receiving planting and top-dressing fertiliser for short-season crops ahead of the El Niño rainfall period.

Authorities were reported to have established a disaster preparedness committee to coordinate county preparations.

The county preparedness plan, hotspots and evacuation centres were reported mapped. Kenya Red Cross reported trained first-line responders, positioned supplies and equipment, and standby boats and vehicles.

The county is named in national health and livestock preparedness coverage, but no fresh county-specific implementation record was located in the review window.

The national livestock plan was launched in Isiolo and names the county for initial implementation, but no fresh county-owned action record was located.

A public preparedness process was reported around flood prevention, local risk identification and community action, with residents urged to act before the rains.

The county published an official advisory for enhanced October–December rainfall. The advisory establishes communication, not completed preparedness work.

Kipkelion East and West were reported mapped for mudslide risk, while municipal boards were clearing stormwater drains and issuing relocation advice.

A multi-agency team is reported to be clearing silt and unblocking, repairing and constructing drainage and water pathways in Kiamumbi, Kiambu Township and Thindigua. Named work includes culverts, trenches, gabions and sewer-line flushing.

The 11 September county report describes preparedness activity. Parliament’s 24 September notice adds a Malindi sanitation direction; reallocation and cleaning are municipal claims, with delivery still open.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

The health department’s notice listed on 2 October specifies tender 2407736-2026/2027, a KSh45 million estimate and bids closing 12 October at 10am. Delivery is required 5–30 days after a purchase order or contract; its issue date is not evidenced.

About ten evacuation centres in Nyando were reported prepared and stocked with food, non-food items, medical supplies, mosquito nets and waterborne-disease medicines.

Kitui is named in the national livestock plan. Current farmer advice is public, but no fresh county-owned El Niño execution record was located in the review window.

Authorities were reported to have identified flood-prone areas, worked with village elders on warnings and identified halls, churches and mosques for evacuation use.

The governor reported that blocked drainage clearance had started, alongside identification of locations where residents might require assistance or relocation.

The county reported a disaster preparedness workplan and convened a four-day multi-stakeholder training on early warning, anticipatory action and coordinated response.

A two-day joint water-rescue course at Athi River Dam is reported complete. The county also reports drainage clearing in several towns, public sensitisation, published emergency contacts and activation of a multi-agency response system.

The county reports ongoing works at the Kyanzonzo and Munyuni rivers in Kalawa Ward, including a sand dam and a one-metre retaining wall, and inspection of the 400-metre Uma–Kalambya Road in Kithungo/Kitundu Ward. It says the projects are being implemented through its Emergency Fund. The earlier KSh152 million preparedness requirement remains a projected total.

The county is developing a participatory scenario plan with the World Food Programme, county departments, the National Drought Management Authority and humanitarian partners to identify scenarios and early actions.

Marsabit hosted the launch of the RANGE Crisis Modifier for Marsabit, Isiolo and Samburu. The announced pathway covers drainage, rangeland and water rehabilitation, livestock vaccination, cash for work and offtake, but county-level delivery is not yet established.

Landslide and flood hotspots were reported identified. A KSh29 million emergency allocation was reported for 2026/27, while the same report said no current-year emergency relief allocation was available.

The county was reported to have allocated KSh44.2 million and purchased relief supplies including food and non-food items; residents later called for early mitigation in Nyatike.

Maintenance teams are reported clearing major storm drains, removing waste and finishing box culverts. The county also reports that 300 county and national officers completed rescue, marine-safety, casualty-management and emergency-response exercises.

Youth Service teams were reported deployed to clear drainage in major towns. The report also identified blocked sewer and feeder-road drainage gaps.

Ongoing drainage and flood-mitigation works were reported across vulnerable areas under a multi-agency programme, with hotspot mapping and emergency coordination also active.

The county reported a multi-agency response, bridge structural assessments across 11 sub-counties and planned immediate dredging and culvert unblocking in Naivasha.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

County preparedness around vulnerable communities, flood and landslide hotspots and critical infrastructure was reported; prior stormwater works and raised footpaths were cited in exposed areas.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

The county executive reports KSh75 million set aside for El Niño preparedness and records a clean-up flag-off in Ol Kalou. Separate environmental allocations are not treated as part of the preparedness amount without an attributable budget trail.

KSh20 million was reported set aside; schools were identified for evacuation use, drainage improvements were reported in Mathira and Kieni, and each sub-county was said to have an ambulance.

Samburu is named in the national livestock plan, but no fresh county-specific preparedness or execution record was located in the review window.

The county convened a multi-sectoral session to refine its Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan, validate mapped risk zones and define early-warning and response arrangements.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

The county and partners were reported to have prepared sector-specific advisories for safety and early action, with dissemination planned through radio, barazas, community structures and digital channels.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

Emergency committees were reported activated, flood and landslide areas mapped across all five sub-counties and volunteers trained, while a spot check found no repair under way on damaged Kitale drainage.

The County Steering Group began multi-agency contingency planning, with a command centre, lead agency, resource mobilisation and pre-positioning still framed as recommendations.

Heavy machinery was reported deployed in Kapseret, Kesses and Turbo to clear waterways, open drainage routes and remove silt from culverts.

No county plan, directive, procurement notice or implementation report was found for the review period.

The national water-works agency advertised Masalale–Kilkey flood-control works in Eldas. Earlier county emergency planning remains part of the record; neither establishes completion.

The county activated departments and disaster structures, validated a risk-assessment tool and planned field assessments, scenario planning and community sensitisation.