Kenya Coast Guard steps up preparedness for El Niño rains
The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) has intensified preparations for possible flooding and other weather-related emergencies along the Kenyan coastline, lakes and shared waterways as the government implements its national contingency plan for the anticipated El Niño rains.
The Service is strengthening its operational readiness to respond to risks posed by heavy rainfall, rising water levels, strong currents, flash floods and rough sea conditions, particularly in areas considered highly vulnerable.
KCGS is inspecting and servicing patrol boats, inflatable rescue crafts and lifesaving equipment while strategically positioning rescue vessels and response teams in high-risk areas ahead of the peak rainfall period.
The Service has also secured fuel reserves, emergency rations, medical kits and communication equipment to support sustained emergency operations.
To improve coordination and situational awareness, 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 (NDOC) and the Kenya Meteorological Department to facilitate the timely sharing of weather, maritime and disaster information.
KCGS said it will deploy additional personnel, vessels and equipment to areas identified through historical flood patterns and vulnerability assessments.
Along the coast, priority areas include the Tana River Delta and Garsen, where upstream runoff could cause severe flooding and disrupt transport links.
The Lamu Archipelago will also receive heightened attention because of the communities’ heavy reliance on water transport and increased exposure to rough seas.
Other coastal hotspots include Vanga and Shimoni in Kwale County, as well as Tudor and Port Reitz creeks in Mombasa, where low-lying settlements face flooding risks.
KCGS will also maintain heightened preparedness around Kilifi Creek and the Sabaki River mouth, where increased river discharge could threaten communities and fishing vessels.
In the inland waterways, the Service has identified the Lake Victoria Basin, particularly Kisumu, Homa Bay and Budalang’i, as priority areas due to the risk of rising water levels and backflow flooding.
Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and Lake Naivasha will also receive increased attention because of potential flooding that could affect communities, infrastructure, agricultural activities and fishing operations.
Further north, KCGS will maintain readiness along the Turkwel River and Lake Turkana, where flash floods from surrounding highlands could endanger communities living along the waterways.
The Service has also issued a Maritime Security Alert to vessel operators, urging them to maintain functional communication equipment and adequate safety gear while at sea as patrols are intensified ahead of the monsoon season.
KCGS is conducting joint flood-rescue simulation exercises with the Kenya Navy, Kenya Wildlife Service and local divers at Diani Beach to test interoperability, response procedures and the readiness of personnel and equipment for coordinated search-and-rescue operations.
The preparations build on KCGS’s response to maritime emergencies since 2023, during which it says it has handled more than 1,500 incidents, including 424 rescue cases this year.
During floods that affected Ahero and Nyakach in March and April, KCGS officers evacuated 86 households, moved more than 200 livestock to safety and rescued more than 300 people.
KCGS said it will continue monitoring conditions across the country’s maritime and inland waterways and adjust deployments according to weather forecasts and emerging risks.
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 periods of severe weather.
