Nairobi: The Lamu County Government has put in place a disaster preparedness workplan aimed at cushioning residents against the impacts of the anticipated El Ni±o rains expected to hit the region in October. Speaking at the Kenya Forestry Institute (KEFRI) in Mokowe, Lamu, County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Agriculture James Gichu said the administration has taken measures to strengthen coordination, preparedness, and response mechanisms ahead of the rains.
According to Kenya News Agency, Gichu called on farmers across the county to harvest their crops early, warning that delays could result in devastating losses that would plunge households into panic and dependence on relief assistance. He urged residents to treat early harvesting not merely as a precaution but as a frontline defense against the kind of food insecurity that has historically followed extreme weather events in the region.
The CEC issued a direct appeal to herders in flood-prone areas, advising those with animals in zones such as Didewaride, Moa, and Chalaluma to move their livestock to higher ground. These areas have previously suffered from seasonal flooding. Gichu also revealed that the county government had already developed a working instrument to guide the disbursement of relief in real time, allowing responders to act swiftly rather than scrambling to design interventions after disaster strikes.
Furthermore, Gichu cautioned farmers to harvest and store their produce properly in dry stores to avoid aflatoxin contamination, a health hazard that has plagued parts of the Coastal region during previous rain seasons. Aflatoxin can render entire harvests unfit for consumption or sale.
Speaking at the same forum, Hindi Ward Representative James Njaaga said the County Assembly was working on an acceptable relief fund allocation to minimize destruction of lives and property once the rains set in. His remarks highlighted an emerging alignment between the executive and legislative arms of county government on the urgency of the matter, with budgetary support seen as key to translating preparedness plans into action on the ground.
Chief Officer in charge of Public Service, Khadija Fumo, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for coordinated action across departments and partners. ‘We must ensure that our plans are practical, coordinated and responsive to the needs of our people,’ she said, adding that the county government was working closely with humanitarian organizations to ensure El Ni±o preparedness is addressed comprehensively.
World Vision Lamu Programme Manager Michael Mulei emphasized the need for collective responsibility among all stakeholders, noting that El Ni±o preparedness cannot rest on the shoulders of a single department. He urged all parties, including government departments, humanitarian actors, and community representatives, to work together in strengthening coordination and ensuring that anticipatory actions are implemented before disaster strikes.
