- Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa urged miners, sand harvesters and those living near rivers to suspend their activities ahead of the approaching El Niño season
- Barasa spoke on Thursday, October 22, while inspecting construction progress at the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital
- The governor also addressed the Ebola threat, confirming the county is coordinating with the national Ministry of Health on its response
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has called on residents engaged in mining, sand harvesting, and those settled along riverbanks to halt their activities immediately, warning that the county is already recording early signs of the approaching El Niño weather event.
Barasa made the remarks Thursday, October 22, during an inspection visit to the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, a Level VI facility currently under construction.
El Niño Threat Grows
Speaking in a rain-soaked presser, the governor counselled those partaking in mining activities to suspend them.
"I urge those in Kakamega who are involved in mining activities, those living near rivers, and those engaged in sand harvesting to suspend these activities, as El Niño is approaching, and we are already seeing signs of it," Barasa said.
The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) has forecast an enhanced October-December short rains season, with above-average rainfall expected across large parts of the country.
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Kakamega is among the counties projected to experience heavier-than-normal precipitation, with rains in several western counties forecast to extend from September through to January.
KMSA data shows the 2026 El Niño is still intensifying, with the weekly Niño 3.4 index reaching +2.7°C as of August 12, placing it on track towards a very strong event.
A KMSA forecast issued on September 21 specifically cited Kakamega, Vihiga, and Bungoma as counties facing enhanced rainfall.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has separately noted that El Niño conditions typically heighten the risk of flooding and landslides during the October-November-December season.
Historically, the combination of El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean dipole contributed to severe flooding in Kenya in 1997 and 2023.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has put the probability of a very strong El Niño during the 2026-27 fall and winter at above 90%, while Kenya Met has warned the phenomenon could extend to February 2027.
Barasa assured residents that the county is ready.
"As a county, we are fully prepared to deal with the El Niño phenomenon as well as the threat of Ebola," he said.
County on Alert Over Ebola
On the Ebola front, the governor said Kakamega is working closely with the national Ministry of Health to coordinate its response following Kenya's first confirmed imported case on October 6.
By October 20, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth had confirmed the national total had risen to nine cases, three of them health workers who cared for the initial patient. Authorities said there was no evidence of wider community transmission at that point.
"If you notice any symptoms of Ebola, you should report them immediately to our health facilities; we are well-prepared to ensure the safety of the people of Kakamega," Barasa said.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. It originated in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May before spreading to Kenya.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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