Kenyan Government Urges Early Action Due to El Niño Forecast

The government has urged that the El Niño forecast be treated as a trigger for early action rather than a cause for panic. Environment and Climate Change PS Festus Ng’eno stated that the forecasts guide multisectoral preparedness, noting that the phenomenon directly affects food, health, livestock, and the national economy. The Principal Meteorologist stated there is a 75 per cent chance the El Niño will reach historic levels, with specific counties including Nandi, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Siaya, and Busia expected to receive rains.

The warnings are based on the KMD's assessment that late action is costly, citing lessons learned from the droughts of 2022 and the floods of 2023 and 2024. The government emphasized that modern forecasting systems now issue impact-based warnings detailing the potential consequences of the weather pattern.

The El Niño forecast is impacting the Kenyan economy through potential above-normal rainfall and associated flooding.