Key messages
Kenya is prone to disasters and in need of strengthening its emergency preparedness and response capacity. The El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to cause severe flooding and drought in many parts of the country. Violence between clans competing for resources is a regular occurrence leading to population displacements.
Over 1 million people, mostly in arid regions, are food insecure. Poor rains, conflict and insecurity continue to destabilise people’s lives leaving them impoverished and vulnerable to new shocks, such as El Niño that is likely to hit the country and cause flooding
A cholera outbreak has affected 21 out of 47 counties since December 2014. With close to 7000 cases and over 100 deaths the epidemic needs to be contained, especially in light of the expected El Niño floods which can create even more favourable conditions for the bacteria to spread.
Kenya hosts nearly 600 000 refugees in camps along the South Sudanese and Somali borders. Over 46 000 refugees have arrived in Kakuma camp since conflict broke out in South Sudan in 2013 bringing the camp’s population to over 180 000. Designed for 125 000 people, this influx has led to overcrowding and water scarcity.
The European Commission has been providing humanitarian aid focused on supporting refugee operations, on building the resilience of populations who are vulnerable to natural hazards or disease outbreaks, and on emergency preparedness and response. It has mobilised over €40 million so far in 2014-2015.