Murkomen urges compliance with evacuation orders amid flooding threat
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 2, 2026Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Kenyans living in high-risk areas to take government evacuation warnings seriously as heavy rains continue across the country.
Speaking on Saturday, May 2, 2026, Murkomen warned that several regions, including Kerio Valley, Turkana and parts of the Coast, face a real danger of flooding, landslides and mudslides due to ongoing rainfall.
“Nawaomba sana, msimu huu kama vile tumetangaza kama wizara, kuna mvua nyingi sana inakuja kwa sehemu nyingi, ikiwa pamoja na hii Kerio Valley Escapement,” he said.
He added that some areas in Kerio Valley could be cut off if the situation worsens.
“Na kuna hatari kwamba sehemu za Kerio Valley huku unaweza kukatika,” he said, even as the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed 10 deaths as of Friday, May 1, 2026.
Murkomen said other parts of the country, especially low-lying areas, are also at risk and require caution, especially when travelling.
“Na sehemu zingine mmeona kama huko Turkana, Coast, wapi kuna floods. Tunataka kuomba wakenya wote wajitadhari na wakue wangalifu wanaposafiri,” he said.
He urged people living in areas prone to mudslides and landslides to work closely with local administrators and security officials so they can move when told to do so.
“Wale ambao wanaishi sehemu ambazo inaonekana kama kuna mudslide ama landslide, tunataka wao washirikiane na county commissioner na our chiefs kuhakikisha ya kwamba mkiambiwa musonge tusonge,” he said.
Murkomen said the government has already issued early warnings, but warned that many people ignore them until it is too late.
“As a ministry, tumetoa early warning kwa kila moja, lakini watu wengi sana wanapuuza mambo ya warning na wanakaa tu wakingojea,” he said.
He said ignoring warnings has led to unnecessary loss of life in past incidents.
He also reminded Kenyans to avoid unnecessary travel during bad weather and to prioritise safety over movement.
“I want to say that as a ministry, tumetoa early warning kwa kila moja,” he said.
“If umeambiwa ya kwamba lazima usonge kwa sehemu fulani ama kwa mambo ya usafiri, imekuwa giza na unaona kuna maji, wewe siyo lazima ufike huko siku hiyo. Ni bora kuchelewa na ufike salama,” he added.
Safety remains a priority
Murkomen said safety remains the government’s priority and called for cooperation from the public.
“Ninawaomba wakenya wote wazingatie ilani hizo ambazo tumetoa ili kuhakikisha tuna protect life,” he said.
The warning comes as Kenya continues to experience severe flooding and landslides linked to heavy rainfall. In March 2026, authorities reported over 66 deaths from floods across the country, with thousands displaced and over 2,000 families forced to leave their homes.
More recently, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) warned communities along the Tana River to move to safer ground due to rising water levels at the Seven Forks dams. The agency said Masinga Dam is nearing full capacity due to continued rainfall in the Mount Kenya and Aberdare catchments.
The Ministry of Interior has also previously identified 37 flood-prone areas in Nairobi, including informal settlements and riverbank communities such as Mathare, Korogocho, Kibera and Mukuru.
Authorities continue to urge residents in high-risk zones to follow official instructions and move early when evacuation orders are issued.