The Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) has intensified efforts to prepare communities for the anticipated October–December 2026 rains, mobilising residents and traders in Sondu for an environmental clean-up exercise.
The initiative, conducted through the FPFK Resilience Livelihood Programme, brought together residents, traders and administrators from Nyakach Sub-County in Kisumu County and Sigowet in Kericho County, with leaders calling for heightened preparedness, environmental conservation and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking to the media during the clean-up exercise at Sondu Market, FPFK Social Ministry Head of Programmes Pastor Joshua Kelele said the activity was symbolic, urging residents living along the Kisumu-Kericho border to “clean their attitudes and thinking” and embrace peace.
Kelele also urged residents to take weather warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department seriously and prepare for possible flooding and disruption of livelihoods during the October–December rainy season.
“We all know that Sondu is a town where all tribes live. Today’s activity is symbolic and a way of sending a message to the community that we should wash our attitude and thinking so that people can live in peace,” Kelele said.
He said FPFK’s resilience programme incorporates an early-warning system used to alert communities whenever there is an impending disaster, including heavy rains and flooding.
Kelele said FPFK had previously supported families and schools affected by floods in Nyando with food, cash and non-food items, including mattresses, and was prepared to extend similar assistance to communities affected by the 2026 rains.
He thanked sponsors from Sweden, Denmark and Norway for supporting the programme while appealing for additional assistance as Kenya prepares for both the rainy season and the 2027 General Election.
According to Kelele, Sondu remains an area requiring close attention because of past tensions and conflicts involving communities living on either side of the Kisumu-Kericho border.
“Next year we will have elections, and we would like to keep an eye on areas like Sondu, which is prone to border conflicts,” he said.
Nyakach Deputy County Commissioner Philip Muoki and his Sigowet counterpart, Assistant County Commissioner Omar Popote, said government agencies were also stepping up preparations for possible flooding.
Muoki warned that indiscriminate dumping of waste could block drainage systems and waterways, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
He said a multi-agency committee had already held several meetings to assess the potential impact of the rains, while awareness campaigns were being conducted across villages to encourage residents to clear blocked waterways and relocate from high-risk areas where necessary.
“We all know that littering the environment blocks the drainage and rivers. We have a committee that is already meeting to discuss the effects of floods that could be caused by El Niño,” Muoki said.
He added that authorities had established an early-warning mechanism through which residents in low-lying areas could be alerted when heavy rains are recorded upstream, particularly around mountainous areas.
Muoki said authorities were also mobilising food supplies to support families who may need to be evacuated to safer areas.
He identified the Sondu Miriu River and Cheptuyet River in Kericho as among the waterways that could pose a significant flooding risk during periods of heavy rainfall.
FPFK Bishop Dr Clement Otieno said the church had also been sensitising its congregants on environmental conservation and disaster preparedness during Sunday services.
He said FPFK had previously supported flood victims in Nyakach, particularly residents of Magina, and would continue working with communities and partners to prepare for possible flooding.
Otieno said FPFK, together with the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), was ready to support communities should the anticipated rains cause significant disruption.
The Sondu clean-up exercise comes as national and local authorities intensify preparations for the October–December 2026 rainy season, with communities in flood-prone areas being urged to remain vigilant and act on early-warning information.
