In a directive issued on March 19, Kipchumba Murkomen placed personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) on high alert in vulnerable areas.
The move follows a warning by the Kenya Meteorological Department that heavy rainfall will begin Friday, peak over the weekend, and continue until Tuesday. Regions expected to be affected include the Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, central highlands, and Nairobi.
Several counties across western, central, coastal, and northern Kenya have been listed as high-risk, with fears of flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage.
According to the National Disaster Management Unit and the Kenya Red Cross, floods have already claimed 73 lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed homes, schools, and roads.
The government has urged residents in landslide-prone areas, including the Aberdare ranges and Mt Kenya slopes, to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines to minimize further loss of life.