Kenya has officially launched the national implementation of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, a global effort led by the United Nations to ensure that no one is left unaware in the face of danger.

The launch event in Nairobi on Wednesday kicks off a three-day workshop (21–23 May 2025) that brings together government officials, development partners, and disaster risk experts to design a robust and locally tailored early warning roadmap.

This initiative could not come at a more urgent time. Kenya has experienced a surge in deadly disasters, including the March–May 2024 floods that displaced more than 410,000 people, resulted in 315 fatalities, and caused economic losses estimated at USD 1.5 billion. Particularly hard-hit are the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), where droughts and floods repeatedly batter vulnerable communities.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Deborah Barassa , underscored the life-saving importance of the initiative. “Every Kenyan, regardless of where they live or what language they speak, deserves access to timely, actionable information before disaster strikes,” she said.

In a strong show of commitment, Dr Barassa also announced that 5% of the national Disaster Risk Management budget will now be allocated to strengthening early warning systems across key institutions.

Kenya is not starting from scratch. The country has laid a strong foundation with tools like the Kenya Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2024–2029, and it hosts the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) a regional hub for climate forecasting and risk analysis.

United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr Stephen Jackson, reaffirmed the UN’s partnership and called the Early Warning Roadmap a critical tool for enhancing disaster readiness at both national and community levels.

Kenya’s growing leadership in climate resilience was internationally recognised in 2023 when President William Ruto was named the World Meteorological Organization’s Champion for EW4All in Africa.

As the climate crisis intensifies, Kenya’s early warning initiative marks a bold shift from reacting to disasters after they strike to preparing proactively and ensuring that everyone, everywhere, is warned and ready.