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Friday, 30 October 2026
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Kenyan press · Event

El Nino

Also known as: El Niño is Here: Time to Act

2026-06-022026-10-30
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News reports

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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026

  2. The Standard

    An aerial view of the swollen Lake Baringo which has submerged homes, farms and roads. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Kenya is bracing for a potentially unprecedented El Nino, with the latest forecast warning that the country could face the strongest event ever measured. …

    El Nino puts 1.5m Kenyans at risk of humanitarian, economic shocks

  3. The Standard

    Residents of Katani wade through floodwaters after heavy downpour on May 1, 2026. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard] The Ministry of Health is stepping up preparations for a possible El Nino linked health crisis, with expected heavy rains threatening to increase demand for services and o …

    Threat of El Nino puts Kenya's healthcare system on alert

  4. The Standard

    … The workers, in green overalls, thrust their shovels into the clogged trench in a race to clear it before the anticipated El Nino rains in October. …

    Nairobi county races to fix rickety drainage system

  5. The Standard

    … The Panama Canal will restrict the number of vessels transiting the crucial waterway from Friday for the second time ever due to drought caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon. …

    How El Nino is choking the Panama Canal

  6. Citizen Digital

    Kindiki calls for urgent county-level preparedness ahead of El Nino rains By DPCS September 02, 2026 04:01 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced fr …

    Kindiki calls for urgent county-level preparedness ahead of El Nino rains
  7. August 2026

  8. Capital News

    … Ahmed Idris, at the Ministry’s Jogoo House B offices, to discuss the Ministry’s preparedness in light of the forecast of a strong El Nino weather event expected in October and November,” he said. …

    Govt moves to shield schools, national exams from looming El Niño disruption

  9. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeThe Ministry of Health has stepped up preparedness measures to prevent and respond to health emergencies linked to heavy rains and flooding ahead of the anticipated El Nino rains. …

    Ministry preparing to tackle water- and food-borne diseases ahead of El Nino

  10. The Standard

    … Then a more distant conflict, between Iran and the United States, crippled fuel and fertiliser supply through the Strait of Hormuz, causing costs to soar.And now the powerful El Nino climate pattern strengthening in the Pacific Ocean, which impacts winds and rains across the worl …

    Sudan farms lie barren as El Nino leaves Nile banks dry
World & Region

El Niño-fueled fires kill 12 people in Peru since June

The News

Forest fires driven by El Niño have killed 12 people and left hundreds homeless in Peru since June, with 457 fires recorded between June and October consuming over 1,000 hectares of farmland and destroying around a hundred homes. Most victims were farmers who died of injuries sustained while fighting the flames, and the worst-affected region was Cusco, where a fire broke out near Machu Picchu earlier this month.

22 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 22 October

  1. El Niño-fueled fires kill 12 people in Peru since June

    Forest fires driven by El Niño have killed 12 people and left hundreds homeless in Peru since June, with 457 fires recorded between June and October consuming over 1,000 hectares of farmland and destroying around a hundred homes. Most victims were farmers who died of injuries sustained while fighting the flames, and the worst-affected region was Cusco, where a fire broke out near Machu Picchu earlier this month.

    22 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 19 October

  1. Kenya expects rainfall across 44 counties amid El Niño season

    The Kenya Meteorological Department forecasts rainfall in parts of 44 counties for October 20–26, with isolated storms possible in nine counties and temperature extremes ranging from below 10°C at night to above 35°C during the day, as the country prepares for an increasingly wet October–December season.

    19 October 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Kenya Met forecasts rainfall across 44 counties this week

    The Kenya Meteorological Department's seven-day forecast predicts rainfall across dozens of counties from October 20 to 26 as the country prepares for the potential effects of a strengthening El Niño, with isolated storms also possible in parts of nine counties.

    19 October 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 17 October

  1. EPRA raises fuel prices by up to 15 per cent in November

    Kenya's Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised pump prices effective October 15, with Super Petrol and Diesel increasing by about 6 and 4.5 per cent respectively in Nairobi, and Kerosene jumping nearly 15 per cent. The regulator attributed the increases to rising import costs, with the average landed cost of Super Petrol rising 11.81 per cent and Diesel 11.32 per cent in September.

    17 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. El Niño threatens East Africa; health systems unprepared for climate shift

    A strengthening "super" El Niño and warming climate are making East African weather patterns less predictable, with forecasts predicting above-normal rain and high temperatures in parts of the Horn. Health systems need accurate forecasts, financing, and political commitment to prepare mosquito control and clinic supplies before the season arrives.

    17 October 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 15 October

  1. Death toll from Tropical Storm Rachel rises to eight in Mexico

    At least eight people have died after Tropical Storm Rachel swept along Mexico's Pacific coast, with the northwestern state of Baja California experiencing rain and flooding since last week. The Mexican army and navy are conducting search and rescue operations with two people remaining missing.

    15 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 11 October

  1. Opinion: Kenya Power regulatory penalties inadequate for outages

    An opinion piece argues that Kenya Power can serve 10 million customers with only Sh40,000 in annual penalties under Legal Notice 79 of 2021, which permits one outage per month and exempts incidents caused by fallen trees or generation failures. The author contends this regulatory framework is insufficient to ensure reliable electricity supply.

    11 October 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 10 October

  1. Individuals and businesses must prepare for El Niño risk

    An opinion piece argues that while government has a critical role in disaster preparedness and response, businesses and households cannot rely on government alone and must take personal steps to protect themselves as El Niño is expected to bring 60–80% above-normal rainfall across much of East Africa from October to December, with 46 of Kenya's 47 counties at risk.

    10 October 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 8 October

  1. Africa off track on malaria reduction targets by 2030

    The World Health Organization warns that Africa accounted for 94 per cent of global malaria cases and 95 per cent of malaria deaths in 2024, with climate change, biological resistance, shrinking donor funding and inadequate intervention coverage threatening elimination efforts. An estimated 282 million malaria cases were recorded globally in 2024, nine million more than the previous year.

    8 October 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Israel envoy warns malaria risk rising with El Niño in East Africa

    Israel's Ambassador to Kenya Gideon Behar warned at a regional malaria meeting that climate change and an impending El Niño episode could worsen malaria transmission in East Africa by enabling mosquitoes to spread into higher, colder, and northern areas, and called on governments to move quickly from planning to action.

    8 October 2026 · Capital News →

  3. Kenya Coast Guard prepares for El Niño weather emergencies

    The Kenya Coast Guard Service has stepped up preparedness for potential flooding and weather-related emergencies ahead of anticipated El Niño rains, strengthening operational readiness along Kenya's coastline, lakes and shared waterways. The Service is inspecting patrol boats and rescue equipment, positioning response teams in high-risk areas, stockpiling supplies, and establishing a dedicated Maritime Disaster Response Joint Operations Centre in Mombasa.

    8 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  4. Nairobi Governor Sakaja announces six-point El Niño preparedness plan

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has outlined a six-point intervention plan to minimise the impact of El Niño rains, focusing on restoring waterways, clearing drainage systems, relocating residents from high-risk areas, strengthening community preparedness and improving emergency response. The plan includes desilting and dredging major rivers including the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers, and encouraging voluntary relocation of residents from areas vulnerable to flooding.

    8 October 2026 · Capital News →

  5. Nairobi clears Eastleigh drainage for El Niño rains

    Nairobi City County has launched a five-day overnight drainage clearance operation in Eastleigh, working nightly from 10pm to 4am to remove accumulated waste and mud ahead of anticipated heavy El Niño rains. The operation, led by Kamukunji Sub-County in partnership with the Green Nairobi team and Mobility and Works departments, aims to improve drainage capacity while minimizing disruption to the busy commercial area.

    8 October 2026 · Capital News →

  6. Nairobi City County mobilises residents for Mazingira Day exercise

    Nairobi City County has mobilised residents across all 17 sub-counties to participate in a citywide Mazingira Day exercise on Saturday, focusing on drainage clearing and tree planting to reduce flood risks ahead of expected El Niño rains.

    8 October 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 7 October

  1. Nairobi prepares drainage and waste systems for El Niño rains

    Nairobi County is conducting cleaning exercises including drainage clearing and waste collection to prepare for anticipated El Niño rains forecast for October to December. The multi-agency effort, led by Governor Johnson Sakaja, aims to protect up to 100,000 residents at risk, following deadly floods in March–May 2026 that killed at least 66 people.

    7 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Nairobi prepares multi-agency plan for El Niño rains

    Nairobi County is conducting drainage clearing, waste collection, and building better drainage systems to prepare for anticipated El Niño rains expected from October to December, following the Kenya Meteorological Department's August advisory of above-average rainfall. The county has formulated a plan led by Governor Johnson Sakaja to protect up to 100,000 residents or 20,000 households at risk, learning from devastating March–May 2026 floods that claimed at least 66 lives.

    7 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 5 October

  1. Government activates national plan for El Niño response

    The government has activated the National Contingency Plan to mitigate anticipated El Niño rains, scaling up interventions through cooperation among security agencies, evacuation procedures, and access route mapping. Search and rescue operations will involve the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, and National Youth Service.

    5 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Kenya Met announces October-December rains onset amid El Niño

    The Kenya Meteorological Service said the October-December rainfall season has officially begun, with heavy rains already recorded in western Kenya, the Rift Valley and the Coast. The season is expected to bring improved water and pasture supplies but also risks of flooding, waterlogging and farming disruption.

    5 October 2026 · Capital News →

  3. Kenya activates national response plan for El Niño rains

    The government has activated a comprehensive national response plan ahead of the expected onset of El Niño rains, coordinating interventions through the National Disaster Operations Centre with multiple emergency agencies on standby for search-and-rescue operations, evacuation, health monitoring, and infrastructure support.

    5 October 2026 · Capital News →

Sunday 4 October

  1. Climate change and human activity strain coastal fisheries livelihoods

    Warming oceans and illegal fishing are depleting marine stocks and threatening food security and livelihoods in Kenya's coastal communities, as illustrated by fishers experiencing smaller catches and longer waits for fish.

    4 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Kisumu MP urges residents to prepare homes, livestock for El Niño rains

    Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu has called on residents of South West Kisumu to take early precautions ahead of forecast El Niño rains, urging communities to work together to protect lives, homes, livestock and livelihoods. Her appeal follows an earlier weather event that damaged homes, destroyed crops and killed livestock in the region.

    4 October 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 2 October

  1. Nairobi Governor sets 14-day deadline for flood-control works

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has given contractors and engineers 14 days to complete critical road and drainage works across all 17 sub-counties in flood-prone areas, ahead of expected El Niño rains. The works include drainage improvements, culvert construction, road rehabilitation, and road upgrades to bitumen standards.

    2 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Nairobi concludes multi-agency El Niño preparedness drill

    Nairobi County completed a two-day Operation Okoa Maisha simulation exercise at Central Park to test preparedness for floods and emergencies, with neighbouring counties Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado joining national disaster-response agencies under a unified coordination framework.

    2 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 30 September

  1. Hurricane Polo crosses Mexico's Pacific coast, weakens inland

    Hurricane Polo made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Baja California with winds up to 175 kilometers per hour, causing damage including downed trees and flooded roads but little serious damage and no reported injuries, before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved into the Mexican mainland.

    30 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Nairobi identifies 227 flood hotspots, partners with residents associations

    Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja announced a partnership with the Kenya Alliance of Residents Associations to integrate flood preparedness measures at household and neighbourhood levels ahead of El Niño rains, with the collaboration aimed at disseminating early warnings, mobilizing communities, and supporting emergency response in flood-prone areas.

    30 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 29 September

  1. Africa must invest in resilience, disaster risk reduction

    An opinion piece argues that Africa should prioritize building resilience and disaster risk reduction, using the author's personal experience of 1997 El Niño flooding at Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya—which isolated the camps and forced air deliveries of food, medicine, and fuel for months—as a lens for examining preparedness in the face of climate-related crises.

    29 September 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 28 September

  1. Sakaja orders evacuation of Nairobi riparian residents for El Niño

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ordered evacuation of residents in high-risk riparian areas ahead of expected El Niño rains and directed multi-agency teams to accelerate drainage clearance and flood mitigation works across the city under a unified command structure.

    28 September 2026 · Capital News →

  2. East Africa faces food crisis as El Niño looms

    Kenya's North Rift and Uganda's Karamoja have suffered widespread crop failure amid soaring grain prices, with forecasters putting the odds of a very strong El Niño between October and December at 81 per cent. Early warning systems have tracked the developing crisis, but the article questions whether response infrastructure can act fast enough to prevent a prolonged food shortage.

    28 September 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 27 September

  1. KNEC identifies 18 counties at risk from El Niño during 2026 exams

    The Kenya National Examination Council has flagged 18 counties as high-risk areas ahead of the 2026 national examinations, as the government prepares for El Niño rains expected to coincide with the examination period.

    27 September 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 26 September

  1. Sakaja oversees illegal structure removal from Nairobi waterways

    Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has overseen the removal of illegal structures blocking waterways along Naivasha Road in Kawangware and is intensifying flood-mitigation work across the city, including clearing, desilting, deepening and widening drainage channels ahead of expected El Niño rains.

    26 September 2026 · Capital News →

El Nino — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute