Deputy President Kindiki Outlines Strategic Plan To Tackle Expected El Niño Flooding

The government has reassured the public that multi-agency measures are actively being deployed to mitigate the impacts of anticipated El Niño heavy rains projected to commence in mid-October.

Speaking in Karen, Nairobi County, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki appealed to citizens to remain calm, confirming that weather projections indicate heightened precipitation starting between the second and third weeks of October.

“We are prepared. There is still work ongoing,” Deputy President Kindiki stated. “We want to ask the people of Kenya and the people of Nairobi not to panic. We will also be giving them regular communication so that nothing catches us by surprise.”

Addressing operational vulnerabilities, the Deputy President highlighted serious threats to public utility infrastructure, particularly rising cases of vandalism, theft, and sabotage along power transmission lines. He disclosed that the executive will escalate the issue to the National Security Council to secure critical installations. Concurrently, Kenya Power and the State Department for Energy are working alongside county governments and local communities to clear wayleaves and mitigate storm-induced power outages.

The Deputy President also confirmed that fiscal hurdles previously threatening to delay emergency operations have been addressed, clearing the way for full-scale preparation. In Nairobi, youth contingents from the county’s Green Army and the national Climate Works program are conducting daily dredging of rivers and clearing drainage bottlenecks across mapped flood hotspots.

Beyond the capital, specialized disaster response strategies are being established for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), with particular focus on low-lying areas like El Wak and the lower Tana River basin. Kindiki assured that should rising water levels necessitate human displacement, temporary holding centers supplied with food, medical supplies, and basic necessities are fully prepared.

“Any evacuation or relocation will be done humanely, will be communicated in good time, and will be done in a manner that gives dignity to the affected people,” Kindiki emphasized, calling on residents in vulnerable areas to cooperate fully with disaster response teams.