The Nyeri County government has set aside Sh76 million to strengthen preparedness and response measures ahead of the expected El Niño.

Nyeri governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga says the county intends to utilize the Sh20 million County Emergency Fund which has remained unspent since 2015.The County will also re-adjust its monetary priorities in 2025/2026 supplementary budget to ensure that it focuses on the El Niño mitigation plans.

“To start with we have a budget of about Sh 76 million. We also have Sh 20 million that has been lying in the County Emergency Fund waiting for any disaster like this. We will also see if we can pool more resources from the National government and other partners,” said Dr Kahiga.

According to the draft El Niño preparedness and response budget proposal seen by KNA,the County Department of Health services has been allocated Sh 37 million which will go towards disease surveillance and purchase of medical supplies in preparation for possible waterborne disease outbreaks among other expenditures.

The county government intends to spend Sh 10 million to repair infrastructure that might get damaged during the heavy downpour.

The county has set aside Sh 5 million for maintaining and fuelling fire engines, ambulances and rapid response vehicles to be used during the enhanced rains and another Sh 2 million to hire heavy machinery and equipment to be used in rescue operations.

Some Sh 300,000 has been set aside to hire specialised personnel among them divers and another Sh 2 million for hiring casual staff who will support county staff in providing emergency response services.

According to the draft El Niño preparedness and response budget proposal, Sh 8 million will be spent to procure non-food items including emergency shelter items, blankets and emergency household kits.

The committee estimates that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used in emergency response will cost the county some Sh 8million with the county listing waterproof coverall, diving kits, respiratory protection masks, life jackets and rescue ropes as some of the items to be procured.

Food items including cereals, cooking oil and iodized salt have been allocated Sh 6million.

Dr Kahiga spoke after chairing Nyeri County Disaster Risk Management Committee at the FK resort in Nyeri.The committee is responsible for developing a coordinated response plan to possible El Niño emergencies and developing a common communication mechanism to share critical information during the enhanced rains.

The committee was constituted in response to a Kenya Meteorological Services Authority (KMSA) advisory projecting above-normal rainfall from the second to the third week of October 2026 and will extend to January 2027.

According to the advisory, a total of 18 counties have been put on red alert of being at risk of flooding and mudslides from the heavy downpour.

Nyeri is among counties expected to start receiving the rains during the second and third week of October. Others include Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Baringo, West Pokot and Narok among others.

The expected effects include landslides, flooding, infrastructure damage, crop loss and water-borne diseases.

Speaking during the meeting the head of Central Region at the Kenya Red Cross society, Esther Chege, said the agency has already identified 833 flood risk hotspots in the country.

According to the regional lead, the agency estimates that about 565,000 people will be displaced by the El Niño rains. She revealed that the Red Cross is also working with partners to prepare 574 temporary rescue facilities across the country.

“What we are doing is enhancing community preparedness because we believe that those are the people who respond first. Experience has also taught us that response is very expensive compared to having early preparedness strategies in place,” she noted.

For Nyeri County, Dr Kahiga said that disaster response committees have also been established at all sub-counties to improve coordination and ensure faster response in the event of emergencies.

He said that the county has already mapped areas considered to be prone to flooding and landslides, with Mukurweini, Tetu and Kieni identified as some of the areas requiring particular attention.

The governor said that surveillance has also been intensified around dams and water facilities that could potentially overflow following heavy rains.

“Among the facilities being monitored are Kyunyu dam, Kagunyu dam, Hohwe dam, Chehe water intake, Karagia dam, Kiguru dam, Kiboya dam, Mugi dam, Mweiga General dam, Rabura Twin dam and Wang’ondu dam. We are working to ensure that outlets at these facilities are adequate and big enough to control the rising water levels and reduce the risk of harming the people downstream should they overflow,” he said.

The governor also warned traders and residents against occupying drainage channels and settling along river banks, saying that such structures could expose residents to serious danger during heavy rains.

He also asked residents living along the banks of rivers, including the Chania river in Nyeri town and Honi in Kieni to voluntarily move to safer grounds.

“We are requesting them to move to safer grounds and move voluntarily because if they don’t then, we the county government in conjunction with the national government will have no choice but move them ourselves,” Kahiga said.

The county boss also said that health authorities have intensified disease surveillance in all institutions including schools in anticipation of an increase in waterborne diseases following heavy rains. Dr Kahiga said that Community Health Promoters have equally been placed on high alert, while hospitals are being guided on the medical supplies to be stocked in preparation for possible disease outbreaks.

“The county is also inspecting schools and other institutions, with particular attention being paid to sanitation and infrastructure that could pose risks during heavy rainfall. We are also improving solid waste management and sensitising residents on proper disposal of waste to prevent drainage systems from becoming blocked.

He said that the county is also sourcing possible evacuation and temporary accommodation facilities, including churches and schools noting that the committee will ensure that national examinations which are slated for October are not disrupted.

Dr Kahiga urged residents to take responsibility in reducing disaster risks, saying preparedness should not be left to the two levels of government alone.

“This is a challenge that is going to face the people of Nyeri, it is not going to face the government alone, it is not going to face the public sector. This is a collective effort towards mitigating those challenges that will come,” he said.

By Wangari Mwangi and Kelvin Opiyo