Health Ministry warns of waterborne diseases as El Niño rains loom

The Ministry of Health has issued an advisory warning of increased risk of waterborne diseases as the country anticipates more rainfall due to the El Nino weather pattern. Principal Secretary for Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, cautioned that heavy rains could lead to outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other diarrheal illnesses, particularly in urban and informal settlements where drainage, sanitation, and access to clean water are problematic.

At a forum in Karumandi, Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County, on September 12, 2026, Muthoni urged local governments, water providers, and residents to enhance preventive measures. She urged counties to boost water quality monitoring, repair leaky sewage systems, safeguard drinking water sources, and ensure proper waste disposal to avoid contamination during heavy rains.

Muthoni also directed health facilities to review their readiness, including stockpiling oral rehydration salts, essential medicines, and infection prevention materials, while ensuring sufficient staffing and efficient referral systems. She emphasized that this advisory was not a sign of an ongoing disease outbreak but a precautionary measure to strengthen surveillance and enable early detection of suspected cases.

Muthoni advised residents to drink safe water, treat it if necessary, store it in clean covered containers, and practice good hand hygiene. She called on Community Health Promoters to intensify health education at the household level and promptly report unusual clusters of diarrheal illnesses to public health surveillance teams.

The Ministry stressed that special attention should be given to children, pregnant women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and displaced families due to their heightened vulnerability during periods of heavy rainfall. The Ministry pledged to maintain coordination with national and county structures to monitor the situation and provide rapid response to any emerging public health threats.