Kenya has more than a 90 per cent chance of receiving El Niño rains, with the government warning people living in flood-prone and riparian areas to move to safer ground immediately.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino says the government is issuing a public notice to residents occupying riparian land and other high-risk areas to vacate, as authorities intensify preparations for the anticipated rains.
Owino says the national government is working with county governments to map areas prone to flooding and establish mechanisms for delivering humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
He has also directed all government departments to put in place preparedness measures ahead of the expected heavy rains.
Despite the anticipated weather conditions, the government says **schools and national examinations will not be disrupted.
Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa says the ministry is mapping out strategies to ensure examination materials reach schools on time, particularly in areas that could be affected by flooding.
Ololtuaa says the government is determined to ensure the examination calendar proceeds as planned, regardless of the intensity of the rains.
The Kenya Meteorological Department says El Niño conditions are gaining momentum in the Indian Ocean and could persist from October 2026 through February 2027.
Western Kenya could, however, begin experiencing El Niño conditions as early as September, according to the weatherman.
The government has identified 18 counties as potentially high-risk, particularly across the Coast, Lake, North Eastern and Rift Valley regions.
They include Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Mombasa, Kwale, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori.
