Preparing for El Nino rains must begin at community level

Homes marooned by floods in Kobala sub-location, Wang'chieng location, Homa Bay County. [File, Standard] There is a difference between knowing that a disaster may happen and being ready when it does. For communities living in areas exposed to flooding, that difference can be measured in hours, sometimes even minutes. Kenya is approaching the coming rainy season with a high likelihood of El Ni o conditions. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of a high likelihood of El Ni o, with its forecasts indicating an 85 per cent to 90 per cent probability of the conditions persisting through the end of 2026. For communities that have lived through destructive floods before, this is not information to put aside until the rains begin. It is a reason to start preparing now.