Maraga Warns of Humanitarian Crisis if El Niño Preparations Delay

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 28 – United Green Movement Party leader David Maraga has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to adequately prepare for the forecast El Niño rains, warning that the country risks a major humanitarian and environmental crisis if urgent measures are not taken. In a statement issued Tuesday, Maraga said the government was “sleepwalking” Kenya into a predictable climate disaster despite repeated warnings from local, regional and international weather agencies about the likelihood of an exceptionally severe rainy season later this year. He cited forecasts by the Kenya Meteorological Department, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which have warned of an intense El Niño event expected to affect the region from October through early next year.

According to Maraga, forecasters have projected an “eight-in-ten chance” that the phenomenon dubbed the “Godzilla El Niño” will hit East Africa, with rainfall expected to surpass the devastating 1997 El Niño that caused widespread flooding, destruction of infrastructure and loss of lives across Kenya. The former Chief Justice also pointed to the United Nations’ assessment placing Kenya among 22 countries facing the highest humanitarian risk from the anticipated weather event. He noted that the UN has launched a $202 million global appeal aimed at supporting 8.8 million vulnerable Kenyans expected to be affected by the looming crisis.

Maraga, however, said there was little evidence that the government had put in place adequate contingency plans to cushion the country against the anticipated impacts. “Despite the alarm sounded by the experts, there is no visible contingency preparation by the government to mitigate the looming disaster,” he said. He urged the government to move with speed to implement disaster preparedness measures, including strengthening flood mitigation programmes, protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring emergency response systems are in place before the onset of the heavy rains.

Climate scientists have warned county governments to prepare for the worst as Kenya braces for what could be one of the most intense El Niño seasons in decades, urging immediate anticipatory action to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.