The government has moved to strengthen Kenya’s emergency communication system ahead of the expected El Niño rains, directing mobile network operators to temporarily bypass normal SMS opt-in and opt-out restrictions when sending authorised public safety alerts.
In a letter dated October 1 and obtained by Vantage Ke, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) directed mobile network operators to facilitate an emergency bulk SMS simulation scheduled for Friday, October 2, as part of preparations for the National Early Warning System and the anticipated El Niño rainfall season.
The authority ordered operators to allow government-authorised emergency messages to reach subscribers regardless of whether they had previously opted out of bulk messages or activated Do-Not-Disturb (DND) settings.
The directive covers emergency alerts, disaster preparedness messages, simulation notifications, emergency instructions and public safety information related to the El Niño period.
The authority said the move was necessary because of the urgency of the preparedness exercise and the need to ensure critical information reaches Kenyans without being blocked by normal commercial messaging restrictions.
The regulator stated that it invoked constitutional provisions on access to information and public safety, as well as conditions contained in telecommunications licences requiring operators to facilitate communication during major disasters and emergencies.
“In case of a major disaster such as earthquakes, floods and similar events or any other situation of emergency or a crisis of either local, regional or national crisis and similar events which require emergency communication services, the Licensee shall facilitate provision of information to the public as may be directed by the Government,” the letter states.
The authority further directed operators to “facilitate the transmission of all approved emergency preparedness and public safety SMS messages” disseminated by the Government through designated platforms, including Short Code 1590.
They were also instructed to deliver the messages to all active subscribers regardless of existing personal messaging preferences, DND settings or previous opt-out arrangements.
The operators have additionally been ordered to give priority to emergency communications and provide technical support required for both the simulation exercise and any actual emergency response operations.
The directive comes as Kenya enters the October–December rainfall season amid forecasts of enhanced rainfall across large parts of the country. However, the Kenya Meteorological Department has cautioned that the first showers should not automatically be interpreted as the official onset of the El Niño rains.
According to the latest forecast reported on October 1, light rains and showers are expected in 36 counties from Saturday and could continue into the following week. Nairobi is among the areas expected to receive light rain, with moderate afternoon showers forecast on Saturday.
The counties expected to experience showers include several parts of the Coast, North Eastern, Eastern, Central, Western and Nyanza regions.
The Met department said the official onset of a rainy season requires at least 20mm of rainfall over three consecutive days, followed by no dry spell lasting more than seven days.
The October–December season is nevertheless expected to bring above-normal rainfall to much of Kenya. The seasonal forecast indicates that some areas could experience prolonged wet spells and isolated storms, raising concerns over flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage and displacement.
The weather outlook also varies considerably by region. Rainfall is expected to begin earlier in some western areas, while Nairobi and several Central Kenya counties are expected to experience the main rains from the second to third weeks of October.
The Ministry of Health has also activated preparedness measures across the country, warning that heavy rainfall and flooding could contaminate water sources and increase the risk of diseases including cholera, typhoid, malaria and other water- and vector-borne illnesses.
CA said the emergency SMS directive was issued in the public interest and to support the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives, property and national security through timely access to critical information.
“Compliance with this directive is mandatory,” the authority stated, requiring operators to implement the necessary technical and operational measures with immediate effect.
