Caritas Kenya ramps up flood preparedness amid El Niño threats

Caritas Kenya, the humanitarian arm of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, is intensifying anticipatory planning to mitigate flood damage expected from the El Niño phenomenon through 2026. National Director Samuel Omondi said the organization is preparing water collection tanks, sanitation facilities, and digital systems for cash‑based assistance.

Funding has been secured from international partners: Catholic Relief Services provided 2.7 million Kenyan shillings for ICT upgrades, and the Irish agency Trócaire contributed €12,000 for local resource mobilization. The agency also built about 27 water tanks in schools affected by previous floods.

Omondi noted that Kenya has faced a prolonged drought in 2022, severe floods in 2024‑2025, and a cost‑of‑living crisis, which together push many into poverty. He cited the shutdown of the US‑funded Nawiri project, which led to the loss of over 200 jobs, as a major challenge.

Recent events include March 2026 flash floods in Nairobi that killed more than 50 people and April storms in Mombasa and Kwale, underscoring the urgency of Caritas Kenya’s preparedness measures.