By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, August 21, 2026 - The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) is ramping up preparations for possible El Niño rains in the coming months, strengthening its weather monitoring and climate intelligence systems.
The authority's Weather Monitoring Committee met with the Kenya Meteorological Department on Tuesday to deepen its technical understanding of weather observation, forecasting, numerical modelling, and hydro-meteorological information.
TARDA said the engagement comes as forecasts point to the possibility of El Niño conditions in the coming months, which might lead to heavy rains that might trigger flooding and other disruptions across the Tana and Athi River Basins.
“With forecasts pointing to the possibility of El Niño conditions in the coming months, the window to prepare is now — not when rivers are already rising, farms are flooded, and communities are responding to damage,” the authority stated.
“The engagement is part of TARDA’s efforts to strengthen how climate information is translated into early action across the Tana & Athi River Basins. This includes exploring stronger data-sharing mechanisms, improved weather and hydrological monitoring, and action-based forecasting,” it stated.
The authority said being well prepared for extreme weather conditions will support water resources management, drought resilience, agricultural planning, and better climate intelligence.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal, disrupting normal weather patterns around the world.
The phenomenon can influence rainfall, temperatures and weather conditions in different regions, including East Africa. In Kenya, El Niño conditions have historically been associated with increased rainfall in some areas, which can raise the risk of flooding and landslides, among others.
Kenya Met said that El Niño-related weather impacts in the country are expected to become more pronounced from October 2026, coinciding with the October–December (OND) short-rains season.
TARDA CEO Roba Duba said that collaboration between the two departments will be fundamental in ensuring that communities in the Tana and Athi basins, which have borne the brunt of extreme weather conditions, receive accurate information early enough to prepare.
“The difference is often not the weather itself, but the readiness to respond to it. Timely information, trusted forecasts and systems that turn early warnings into early action can save lives, protect livelihoods and reduce the cost of climate-related disasters,” Duba stated.
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