Nairobi: Wajir County has stepped up preparations to mitigate the anticipated effects of enhanced rainfall expected during the October-November-December (OND) season, with authorities warning of possible flooding, disease outbreaks, and disruption of transport and food supplies.
According to Kenya News Agency, National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) County Drought Coordinator Omar Abdi stated that stakeholders have developed contingency measures focusing on key sectors, including livestock, agriculture, water, health and nutrition, humanitarian response, and food security. Abdi highlighted concerns about potential road impassability, commodity supply disruptions, and increased cases of waterborne and vector diseases affecting both humans and livestock.
Abdi advised stakeholders to pre-position essential supplies before the onset of the rains to ensure continuity of services in case roads and transport corridors are disrupted. He noted that rains are expected to begin around the second or third week of October and continue until the first or second week of December, with forecasts indicating above-normal rainfall during this period.
He urged households to take preventive measures such as clearing drainage channels around homes, protecting wells and house foundations, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring gutters are in good condition to prevent floodwater from entering houses. ‘The larger responsibility lies within households. We are requesting communities across Wajir County to put measures in place to mitigate the negative impact of floods,’ he said.
County Director for Disaster Management Abdikadir Hussein Alasow mentioned that the county had identified vulnerable areas and was implementing measures to improve preparedness before the onset of the rains. Efforts will focus on keeping roads passable, clearing drainage systems within Wajir Municipality, and ensuring major transport corridors remain motorable.
Alasow also noted preparations for potential outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, particularly Rift Valley fever, which affects livestock and can be transmitted to humans. ‘We are looking at vaccinating our animals before the rainy season and pre-positioning food items and emergency medical supplies in our hospitals before the forecasted rains,’ he said.
Kenya Red Cross Society Wajir County Coordinator Suleiman Saney Abdinur emphasized the shift from early warning to early action in preparation for the expected heavy rains. Red Cross volunteers have been mobilized and sensitized across the county’s sub-counties, and flood-prone hotspots have been mapped in collaboration with the county and national governments. ‘As we are expecting enhanced rainfall in October, Kenya Red Cross is moving from early warning to early action,’ Abdinur said.
Additionally, the county meteorological department has forecast above-normal rainfall during the OND season, although officials cautioned residents against comparing the expected rains with the 1997 El Ni±o rains. The meteorological outlook considers conditions in both the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, with officials noting that current indicators do not suggest a repeat of the 1997 rainfall event.
Authorities have urged residents, especially those living in flood-prone areas, to remain alert and undertake early preparedness measures as the county continues to strengthen its response mechanisms ahead of the rainy season.
