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Kenya Humanitarian Update, August 2026 | Save the Children Kenya

Field Reports & Humanitarian • Source: ReliefWeb Global WASH Updates • 2026-09-15

Executive Summary

Country: Kenya Source: Save the Children

                    Please refer to the attached file.
                    This update highlights Save the Children’s humanitarian response and resilience programming across Kenya in August 2026, covering key interventions in health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, climate resilience and emergency preparedness. It captures key achievements, partnerships, field activities and emerging priorities aimed at protecting children and supporting vulnerable communities affected by crises.

El Niño preparedness in Kenya. Kenya continues to strength its El Niño preparedness through a coordinated national approach focused on reducing the impacts of flooding, displacement, and damage to critical infrastructure through development and activation of EL Nino contingency plan. The plan is based on the most likely scenario of a strong El Niño event that could affect up to one million people and displace approximately 500,000 people across Kenya's flood-prone counties. The plan prioritizes preparedness, anticipatory action, and rapid response to mitigate the impacts of flooding, while also capitalizing on opportunities associated with above-normal rainfall. Key priorities include strengthening early warning systems, pre-positioning relief supplies, ensuring continuity of essential services, protecting vulnerable populations, and enhancing coordination between national and county governments, humanitarian partners, and communities. The Climate Outlook for the October–December 2026 Short Rains season issued by the Kenya Meterological Services Authority indicates that above-average rainfall is expected over Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang’a, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, and much of West Pokot, Samburu and Marsabit Counties Food Security in Kenya. The food security situation has improved from early 2026, but 2.74 million people in ASAL counties, and 351,000 refugees are still facing acute food insecurity, and require urgent action during July to October 2026, according to the Kenya Long Rains Assessment. The major drivers are crop production deficits, high food prices, livestock stress, conflict and insecurity, flooding, disease outbreaks, and deteriorating nutrition conditions. Nutrition Situation in Kenya. An estimated 883,258 children aged 6 to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition, of whom 658,955 have Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and 224,264 have Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). In addition, 116,846 pregnant and breastfeeding women require treatment for acute malnutrition, highlighting a critical nutrition crisis affecting both children and mothers and underscoring the need for strengthened prevention, treatment, and nutrition support interventions in affected areas. In the counties of Garissa, Turkana, Mandera and Nairobi data from KHIS suggests that between May and July, malnutrition treatment admissions increased by 39%, from 43,066 in 2025 to 59,819 in 2026. The largest increase was recorded in new SAM admissions, which rose by 77%, from 9,649 to 17,048, while MAM admissions increased by 29%, from 31,750 to 40,852, and stabilizer admissions increased by 15%, from 1,667 to 1,919. The increase was most pronounced in May and June 2026, particularly for SAM and MAM admissions, while admissions across all three categories were lower in July 2026 than in the corresponding month of 2025.

Sector Implications & Context

This update highlights continuous developments across global rural water access, climate adaptation, and emergency WASH infrastructure. Sustainable deployment in vulnerable communities requires appropriate technology selection aligned with local hydrogeological realities.

Original Source & Verification