Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has stepped up preparations to protect schools, learners and education personnel from the expected El Niño rains during the October-November-December 2026 season.
Ogamba on Wednesday chaired a preparedness meeting bringing together Ministry of Education field officers, Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officials, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) and the National Disaster Management Unit.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination and emergency response measures as the government prepares for potentially heavy rains that could disrupt learning and national examinations.
Government prepares schools for heavy rains
Ogamba said the government was putting measures in place to safeguard school infrastructure and minimise disruptions to the academic calendar.
“The meeting focused on strengthening coordination and preparedness to ensure the safety of learners, teachers and education personnel, safeguard learning infrastructure, and minimise disruptions to the school calendar and the administration of examinations during the rainy season,” he said in a statement shared on his official X account.
The Education Ministry is particularly concerned about possible flooding, damage to classrooms and other facilities, as well as transport challenges that could make it difficult for learners and teachers to access schools.
The involvement of KMSA and the National Disaster Management Unit is expected to help ensure that weather information and emergency response measures are coordinated across the country.
National examinations a key concern
The government is also seeking to ensure that national examinations and assessments proceed even in areas affected by severe weather.
Flooded roads, damaged school facilities and disruptions to transport could affect examination centres and candidates if heavy rains intensify.
By involving KNEC in the preparedness process, the ministry is working to develop contingency measures that can allow examinations to continue in affected areas.
The preparations began earlier in August when Ogamba met Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris to discuss the anticipated El Niño conditions.
At the time, Ogamba said climate-related disasters posed significant risks to the education sector and emphasised the need for early preparedness to protect learners, teachers and school property.
Weather authorities monitor El Niño conditions
KMSA has warned that El Niño conditions could influence weather patterns across Kenya towards the end of 2026.
In its June outlook, the authority indicated an 80–82 per cent likelihood of El Niño developing during June-August, while the probability of the phenomenon persisting through the end of the year was estimated at 90–96 per cent.
KMSA said the October-November-December period could experience increased rainfall associated with El Niño, potentially raising the risk of flooding, infrastructure damage and transport disruptions.
The impact of the rains could also be influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole, which can modify rainfall patterns in East Africa.
Broader preparations underway
The education sector’s contingency planning is part of wider government preparations for the anticipated weather event.
Kenya has previously experienced major disruptions from heavy rains and flooding, including damage to roads, bridges, homes and public infrastructure.
Schools are particularly vulnerable when classrooms are damaged or access roads become impassable, potentially interrupting both learning and examination activities.
On September 10, the US Climate Prediction Center said there was a greater than 90 per cent chance of a very strong El Niño during the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn and winter of 2026-27.
However, global forecasts do not determine precisely how rainfall will be distributed across Kenya. Local conditions will continue to be monitored by KMSA, which has urged the public and government agencies to rely on updated official forecasts as the season approaches.
