State (mis)communication has fuelled El Nino floods misery

Flooded River Muuoni in Mbitini, Makueni County. [John Muia, Standard]

According to government statistics, nearly 70 people have lost their lives as a result of the El Nino rains pounding many parts of Kenya. Hundreds of others, especially in northern Kenya and in the coastal region, have been left homeless with no food and clean water.

As the misery brought about by the heavy rains continues, one pertinent question that many keen observers are asking is; where did the rains start beating us? This question arises due to the dramatic communication that the country witnessed before the start of the heavy rains. First, the Kenya Meteorological Department predicted in August 2022 that the country would experience El Nino rains.