ADVERT 
ADVERTThe government’s decision to strengthen crisis communication ahead of the anticipated 2026 El Niño rains is timely and necessary. Weather related emergencies do not test only the country’s drainage systems, roads, bridges, health facilities and emergency services. They also test the quality, speed and credibility of communication between public institutions and citizens. When people do not receive accurate information in good time, even well prepared response plans can fail to protect lives and property.
The inaugural National Crisis Communication Standing Committee meeting, chaired by Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke and attended by Government Spokesperson Charles Owino and officials from State departments and agencies, has correctly identified last mile communication as a major weakness in disaster preparedness. The concern is not merely about producing official statements. It is about ensuring that warnings, instructions and updates reach people in forms they can understand and act upon, including those living in remote areas, informal settlements and locations with limited access to reliable communication channels.
A crisis communication system must therefore be treated as an essential part of national preparedness rather than as an activity that begins after a disaster has already occurred. Communities need information before heavy rains begin, during emergencies and throughout the recovery period. They need to know the expected weather conditions, the risks in their areas, the actions they should take, the locations of safe facilities and the institutions responsible for assistance. Without this information, citizens may be forced to depend on rumours, unverified social media messages or delayed accounts from people who are themselves uncertain about the situation.
The government’s proposed crisis communication playbook is an important step because it can establish clear responsibilities and procedures before an emergency occurs. A functional framework should define who communicates, what information must be verified, how quickly messages should be released and how national agencies will coordinate with county governments. It should also provide clear procedures for situations that require evacuation, emergency medical support, temporary shelter, road closures or the protection of essential services. The plan must be practical enough to guide officials under pressure and flexible enough to respond to different conditions across the country.
The value of such a playbook will depend on whether it is implemented beyond offices in Nairobi. National communication can provide direction, but counties and local administrations are closer to the people affected by floods, landslides, damaged roads and displacement. County officials, chiefs, village administrators, health workers, teachers, religious leaders and community organisations all have a role in ensuring that public information reaches households. A message that remains within government offices or appears only on national television cannot be considered an effective warning.
ADVERTLast mile communication must recognise Kenya’s social, geographic and linguistic diversity. Many people receive information through local radio, public meetings, mobile phones, community leaders and places of worship. Others may have limited literacy, hearing or visual difficulties, restricted access to electricity or unreliable internet connectivity. Crisis messages should therefore be delivered through several channels and in language that is simple, direct and locally understandable. Communication should not assume that every citizen uses social media, owns a smartphone or has continuous access to television and radio.
The timing of public information is equally important. A warning issued too late may leave families with no opportunity to move to safer locations, protect essential documents, secure livestock or seek medical assistance. A warning that is vague may cause confusion, while one that is exaggerated may create unnecessary fear and reduce public trust. The government must communicate what is known, what remains uncertain and what citizens should do. It should avoid both complacency and alarmism.
The language used by public officials will shape how the public responds. Reassuring citizens that there is no need for panic can be helpful, but reassurance must be accompanied by clear guidance and evidence of preparation. Citizens should not be encouraged to ignore warnings simply because the situation has not yet become dangerous. The public needs calm and honest communication that supports early action. Preparedness messages should explain that taking precautions is not a sign of fear but a responsible response to a possible emergency.
Crisis communication also requires a strong system for verifying information. During periods of severe weather, false reports can spread quickly and interfere with rescue efforts. Misleading claims about road closures, evacuation centres, relief supplies or the safety of particular areas can expose people to further danger. Government agencies should provide regular, easily identifiable updates so that citizens and the media can distinguish verified information from speculation. Corrections should be issued quickly whenever inaccurate information circulates.
The media remains a vital partner in this process. Government communication should not be limited to press releases or scheduled briefings. Journalists need access to timely information, responsible officials and technical experts who can explain weather forecasts and emergency measures in plain language. Media houses should also be supported with accurate updates that enable them to report responsibly without creating unnecessary alarm. Local radio stations deserve particular attention because they often serve communities that national platforms cannot reach effectively.
However, cooperation with the media should not mean controlling the flow of information. Public trust is strengthened when journalists can ask difficult questions and officials respond openly. Citizens deserve to know whether emergency equipment is available, whether evacuation centres are prepared, whether drainage systems have been cleared and whether roads and bridges considered vulnerable have been assessed. Transparency is not a weakness in a crisis. It helps the public understand the seriousness of the situation and judge whether official assurances are credible.
Communication must also allow government to listen. A system that only sends messages from officials to citizens is incomplete. Communities should be able to report blocked roads, rising water levels, damaged infrastructure, missing persons, unsafe shelters and urgent health needs. Feedback from residents can help authorities identify emerging risks that may not yet appear in formal reports. The proposed framework should therefore include channels for receiving, verifying and acting on information from the public.
The focus on last mile communication also raises questions about resources. Counties and local institutions cannot be expected to provide effective emergency communication without trained personnel, reliable equipment and funds for public outreach. Communication officers should be included in preparedness planning from the beginning, rather than being brought in only when an emergency has already developed. Training should cover risk communication, public information management, media relations, misinformation and communication with vulnerable groups.
Schools, health centres and public offices can also serve as important points of information. Teachers and health workers interact with families regularly and are often trusted sources within their communities. They can help explain safety instructions, identify vulnerable people and direct residents to official assistance. This role should be carefully coordinated so that local actors do not issue conflicting messages or assume responsibilities beyond their training.
The anticipated rains also require communication that connects national preparedness with household responsibility. Government has the duty to organise emergency response, protect public infrastructure and provide timely warnings. Citizens, however, need practical information on how to clear drainage around homes, protect children, avoid dangerous crossings, preserve medicines and important documents, and seek help when conditions become unsafe. Such guidance should be specific without transferring the burden of disaster management from the State to individuals.
The most vulnerable communities must remain at the centre of the communication strategy. People living in flood prone settlements, families with persons with disabilities, older people, children, farmers, pastoralists and households with limited income may face greater difficulty responding to warnings. Communication should identify the additional support these groups require. It should also make clear where people can obtain help, how emergency services can be contacted and what arrangements exist for temporary shelter and essential supplies.
A credible crisis communication system must operate continuously rather than only during major weather events. Kenya faces different emergencies, including disease outbreaks, fires, industrial accidents, insecurity and infrastructure failures. The structures developed for the El Niño response should become part of a permanent national and county disaster communication capacity. Lessons learned from the current process should be documented and used to improve future planning.
The government should also ensure that official messages are consistent across institutions. Conflicting statements from ministries, agencies and county authorities can create uncertainty at the very moment when people need clarity. A coordinated system should identify the authoritative sources for different kinds of information while allowing technical agencies to communicate directly on matters within their expertise. The public should not have to determine which of several government statements is accurate.
Trust will be the foundation of the entire effort. Citizens are more likely to follow evacuation orders, health advice and safety instructions when they believe public institutions communicate honestly and act in the public interest. Trust is built through consistency, openness and visible action. It is weakened by unexplained delays, contradictory information, inaccessible officials and promises that are not matched by preparedness on the ground.
The current initiative offers the government an opportunity to correct a long standing weakness in disaster management. Emergency response is often measured by the number of rescue vehicles deployed or supplies distributed, but the effectiveness of those measures depends partly on whether people know where to go, what to avoid and how to request assistance. Communication is not an accessory to preparedness. It is one of the systems through which preparedness becomes meaningful to the public.
The proposed crisis communication playbook should therefore be completed through broad consultation with counties, local administrators, media organisations, civil society groups, emergency responders and communities. Its procedures should be tested before the rains intensify, and its weaknesses should be corrected without delay. Officials responsible for communication should be known to the public, and updates should be issued through channels that citizens already use and trust.
The anticipated El Niño rains present a serious responsibility for the government, but they also provide an opportunity to establish a more reliable relationship between public institutions and citizens. A warning is useful only when it reaches the people who need it, in language they understand, at a time when they can act. The success of the national preparedness effort will therefore depend not only on plans made at the centre but also on communication delivered in villages, estates, markets, schools and households.
Kenya needs a crisis communication system that is coordinated nationally, responsive locally and accountable to the public. The government’s recognition of last mile communication as a preparedness gap is welcome. The next step must be to ensure that the gap is closed through clear responsibility, adequate resources, verified information, accessible channels and continuous public engagement. If communication is treated as a core component of emergency management, the country will be better placed to protect lives, reduce confusion and respond with greater confidence when severe weather arrives.
James’ Kilonzo Bwire is a Media and Communication Practitioner
