The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) has stepped up preparedness for flooding and other weather-related emergencies, positioning rescue teams and assets in high-risk areas along Kenya’s coastline, lakes and shared waterways ahead of the peak El Niño rainfall period.
The preparations come as Kenya enters the October-December rainfall season, with the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasting enhanced rainfall in most parts of the country and warning of possible weather-related impacts. The government has consequently intensified preparedness and response measures ahead of the rains.
According to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, KCGS is inspecting and servicing patrol boats, inflatable rescue crafts and life-saving equipment as part of its pre-deployment measures. Fuel reserves, emergency rations, medical kits and communication equipment have also been secured to support sustained emergency operations.
The Service has identified several areas for heightened preparedness based on historical flood patterns and vulnerability assessments. Along the coast, these include the Tana River Delta and Garsen, the Lamu Archipelago, Vanga and Shimoni in Kwale County, as well as Tudor and Port Reitz creeks in Mombasa.
KCGS will also maintain heightened readiness around Kilifi Creek and the Sabaki River mouth, where increased river discharge could pose risks to communities and fishing vessels.
In the Lake Victoria Basin, particular attention will be given to Kisumu, Homa Bay and Budalang’i, where rising water levels and backflow flooding could affect landing sites and leave fishing communities and boats stranded.
Other inland priority areas include Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and Lake Naivasha, as well as the Turkwel River and Lake Turkana. The Service says rising water levels and flash floods in these areas could threaten communities, infrastructure and vessels operating on the water.
To strengthen coordination, KCGS has established a dedicated Maritime Disaster Response Joint Operations Centre at its headquarters in Mombasa. The centre will operate around the clock and maintain links with the National Disaster Operations Centre and the Kenya Meteorological Department to facilitate the sharing of weather, maritime and disaster information and guide deployment.
The Service is also conducting joint flood-rescue simulation exercises at Diani Beach with the Kenya Navy, Kenya Wildlife Service and local divers. The drills are testing coordination, response procedures and the readiness of personnel and equipment for search-and-rescue operations.
The preparations build on KCGS’s previous emergency response work. The Service says it has responded to more than 1,500 maritime emergencies since 2023, including 424 rescue cases in 2026. During floods in Ahero and Nyakach in March and April, its officers evacuated 86 households, moved more than 200 livestock to safety and rescued more than 300 people.
KCGS has also issued a Maritime Security Alert to vessel operators, urging them to maintain functional communication equipment and adequate safety gear while at sea.
The Service will continue monitoring conditions across Kenya’s maritime and inland waterways and adjust deployments according to weather forecasts, emerging risks and the evolving situation.
The government has urged communities living near rivers, lakes, the coastline and other water bodies to remain vigilant, follow official weather and safety advisories, and avoid unnecessary movement near hazardous waterways during severe weather.
