The Ministry of Health has rolled out an El Niño preparedness plan in 18 high-risk counties as Kenya braces for heavy rains and their potential impact on public health.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni said the Ministry was seeking support from health partners to strengthen preparedness and mitigate the effects of the expected rains.

Speaking during a health partners' engagement on planning for the Kenya Public Health International Conference (KEPHIC) 2026 on Wednesday, Muthoni said the response would require a coordinated effort between the government and its partners.

“We have experienced El Niño before, and we have taken time to learn from past disasters and build on the challenges we faced so that we can better mitigate its effects,” Muthoni said.

📌 What You Need to Know

In 2023, 43 counties were affected by the El Niño phenomenon, exposing communities to flooding, disease outbreaks and disruption of essential services.

The Interior Ministry has also flagged 18 counties as high-risk zones ahead of the anticipated 2026 El Niño rains, warning of floods, disease outbreaks and food shortages.

Nairobi features on the list, with urban flooding, blocked drainage systems and strained infrastructure identified as major concerns. In the Coastal Region, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Mombasa and Kwale have been marked as vulnerable to heavy rains and rising sea levels.

The coastal counties are expected to face flooding, storm surges, coastal erosion, infrastructure damage and displacement, while Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori in the Lake Basin are also under close watch.

The Interior Ministry said the high-risk counties face a mix of flooding, landslides, disease outbreaks, waterborne illnesses and possible displacement of families as the rains intensify.

As such, the Ministry of Health is seeking partner support for temporary medical structures, emergency medical services, health promotion, nutritional needs assessments, safe water and sanitation, logistics, security of critical infrastructure and medical supplies for affected areas.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke