Red Cross a Key Partner in Kenya’s Launch of Global Early Warning Initiative.

The Kenya Red Cross Society has become a key pillar in the implementation of the new global early warning initiative launched and domesticated by Kenya on 21 May 2025, in a grand ceremony presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Dr Deborah Mulongo Barasa.

The new Early Warning for All initiative is an offshoot of the 2022 launch by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, “to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.”

At the launch, KRCS Secretary General, Dr Ahmed Idris, outlined the pivotal role the humanitarian organisation played during the devastating floods recently witnessed in the country, in which over 300 people lost their lives and 400,000 were displaced from their homes – necessitating full-scale rescue and relocation operations.

“Roads were cut. Families were displaced. We were assisted by an early warning system that allows us advance preparation and readiness for any disaster,” Dr Idris explained to the gathering of experts, partners, and humanitarian groups represented at the function held at Nairobi’s Radisson Blu Hotel.

He explained that the early warning system, for which President William Ruto was selected by Mr Guterres as the global champion, is an important cog in the wheel of humanitarian operations, as it allows for early preparation, staff training, and refinement of logistical support.

“For us, early warning constitutes a cumulative and continuous process in our operations. We have over 270,000 volunteers across the country. This is a very difficult asset to build and mobilise. But we must work in a constant state of preparedness,” said Dr Idris.

He told the participants – who included Principal Secretaries Festus Ng’eno (Environment) and Stephen Isaboke (ICT) – that for KRCS, this has been an ongoing process, as a reliable early warning system leads to early response. He also announced that KRCS is part of the effort to develop an early warning system adapted for pandemics such as COVID-19, which tested both the capacity of humanitarian organisations and the economic stability of the nation.

Dr Deborah Mulongo Barasa used the occasion to announce the government’s decision to set aside five per cent of the national risk management budget, a move welcomed by the executives, envoys, and climate change experts in attendance. These included the Director of Kenya’s Meteorological Department, Dr David Gikungu; the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan; International Federation of Red Cross Regional Director, Charles Busenge; United Nations Resident Coordinator, Stephen Jackson; and Anne Rita Ssemboga from the International Telecommunication Union.

Dr Barasa gave a spirited defence of the new early warning system, noting that it maximises data modelling to deliver timely, accurate, and actionable information to key stakeholders.

“Every Kenyan — regardless of where they live or what language they speak — deserves access to life-saving information before disaster strikes. This initiative will do exactly that. Let us therefore unite, collaborate, engage, and build an early warning system in Kenya that will reduce loss of life and livelihoods, bolster food security, and build a more resilient Kenya for generations to come,” she said.

The Cabinet Secretary exhorted county governments to include sub-counties and wards in early warning outreach activities in their budgets for this financial year, adding that these systems are urgent, given that climate change is “causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, resulting in widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people.” She noted that early warning systems are a proven, efficient, and cost-effective way to save lives and jobs, protect land and infrastructure, and support long-term sustainability.

The British envoy lauded KRCS for leading the global early warning initiative and for its “amazing work in Northern Kenya and along the Kenya–Somalia border in mitigating the hazards of climate change to save lives and livelihoods.”

“Forecasting is not enough. We need to ensure that warnings reach target communities and are backed by action. This is a gigantic step by Kenya to build disaster preparedness and take early actions to avert catastrophe,” he said.

Mr Cyrille Honore, from the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Division of the World Meteorological Organisation, argued that early warning systems are only as strong as the actions they trigger.

“We must ensure early warning systems reach communities at the right time and in a way that will spur them into actions that will protect lives and livelihoods,” said Mr Honore.

Mr Isaboke announced that the ICT Ministry is exploring the creation of a common alert system or protocol, which would enable joint early warnings to be issued by government and telecommunication entities during emergencies.

Dr Barasa concluded by noting that donor funding is on the decline and urged relevant agencies to mobilise internal resources to minimise the impact of climate change risks.