Nairobi: The Ministry of Health has warned of a possible rise in waterborne diseases as Kenya prepares for El Ni±o rains, urging county governments, water providers, city authorities, and residents to strengthen preparedness measures. Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department of Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said priority should be placed on preventing water contamination, strengthening disease surveillance, and ensuring patients can access timely treatment.
According to Kenya News Agency, Muthoni emphasized the need for special attention in major urban centers, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret, due to the increased risk of water contamination, sewage leakages, and poor sanitation from heavy rains. Speaking at the Jamii Imara Initiative Forum in Karumandi, Kirinyaga County, the PS urged authorities to inspect drainage systems, safeguard water sources, and ensure reliable water supplies and sanitation services.
Muthoni reiterated the health sector’s El Ni±o contingency plan, which provides a framework for coordination between the national and county governments to combat the potential rise in diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other diarrheal diseases. She advised counties to collaborate with water utilities to intensify water quality monitoring and address sewage leakages.
Health facilities have been directed to verify stocks of oral rehydration supplies, essential medicines, and infection-prevention materials. Muthoni stressed the importance of assessing staffing levels, backup water supplies, and referral arrangements to effectively respond to increased demand. She called for strengthened disease surveillance to identify and respond to emerging outbreaks early.
Muthoni also highlighted the need for development partners to align their interventions with gaps identified by counties in water, sanitation, disease surveillance, and treatment preparedness. This, she said, would ensure effective resource pooling ahead of the rains. Special attention is needed for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and displaced families during periods of heavy rainfall and displacement.
Each county has its own contingency committee to address local challenges, while national coordination is managed through a committee chaired by the Deputy President. Muthoni urged Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to intensify household-level health education and remain alert to emerging health threats in their communities.
