Kenya Coast Guard steps up readiness ahead of El Niño rains

The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) has stepped up preparedness for potential flooding and other weather-related emergencies ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains.

The Service said it is strengthening its operational readiness along Kenya’s coastline, lakes and shared waterways amid the risk of heavy rainfall, rising water levels, strong currents, flash floods and rough sea conditions.

KCGS said it is inspecting and servicing patrol boats, inflatable rescue crafts and life-saving equipment as part of pre-deployment measures.

Rescue vessels and response teams are also being positioned in high-risk areas, while fuel reserves, emergency rations, medical kits and communication equipment have been stockpiled to support sustained emergency operations.

The Coast Guard has also established a dedicated Maritime Disaster Response Joint Operations Centre at its headquarters in Mombasa to provide 24-hour monitoring and coordinate responses.

The centre will maintain operational links with the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and the Kenya Meteorological Department to facilitate timely sharing of weather, maritime and disaster-related information.

KCGS said it will concentrate personnel, vessels and other resources in areas identified as vulnerable based on historical flood patterns and vulnerability assessments.

Along the coast, the priority areas include the Tana River Delta and Garsen, the Lamu Archipelago, Vanga and Shimoni in Kwale County, as well as Tudor and Port Reitz creeks in Mombasa.

Heightened preparedness will also be maintained around Kilifi Creek and the Sabaki River mouth, where increased river discharge could pose risks to communities and fishing vessels.

Inland, KCGS has identified the Lake Victoria Basin, particularly Kisumu, Homa Bay and Budalang’i, as areas requiring increased vigilance due to the risk of rising water levels and backflow flooding.

Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and Lake Naivasha have also been designated priority areas, while further north the Service will maintain readiness along the Turkwel River and Lake Turkana.

The Coast Guard said it has already issued a Maritime Security Alert to vessel operators, urging them to maintain proper communication equipment and adequate safety gear while at sea.

“KCGS is also undertaking joint flood-rescue simulation drills with the Kenya Navy, Kenya Wildlife Service and local divers at Diani Beach,” read a statement from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

“The exercises are testing interoperability, response procedures and the readiness of personnel and equipment to undertake coordinated search-andrescue operations during flooding and other emergencies.”

The enhanced preparedness builds on KCGS' response to previous maritime emergencies.

Since 2023, the Service says it has responded to more than 1,500 maritime emergencies, including 424 rescue cases in 2026 alone.

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 Kenya's maritime and inland waterways and adjust deployments based on weather forecasts and emerging risks.

The government has meanwhile 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 severe weather.