Nairobi, 13 August 2026 — Kenya’s efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, early warning and anticipatory action are set to benefit from emerging satellite and artificial intelligence technologies following discussions between the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and experts from Planet.

The Director of NDOC, Col (Rtd) David Samoei, together with a team from the Centre, on Thursday received Mr. Ahmed Taha and his team from Planet for discussions on how satellite imagery and advanced data analytics can be leveraged to anticipate and mitigate disasters across Kenya.

During the engagement, Mr. Taha demonstrated how Planet’s satellite-based systems can support early warning and disaster risk management for a range of hazards, including floods, drought and forest fires. The technology provides authorities with valuable information that can help identify emerging risks and support timely decision-making.

A key highlight of the presentation was the demonstration of AI-powered simulations and “what-if” scenarios, which can help authorities visualize the potential impacts of different disaster situations, identify areas at greatest risk and prioritize locations for early intervention and response.

The technology presents significant opportunities for addressing some of Kenya’s emerging disaster risks, including rising lake levels, high-risk dams and flood-prone areas. It could also enhance the ability of authorities to provide timely and targeted flood warnings, particularly ahead of periods of heavy rainfall.

The discussions come at an important time as Kenya prepares for the October–November–December (OND) rainfall season. The application of satellite imagery and predictive simulations could provide critical information to support preparedness measures, resource allocation and anticipatory action at both national and county levels.

The two teams agreed to explore the development of a pilot project using satellite imagery and AI-powered simulations for Kenya. The pilot will focus on developing disaster scenarios linked to the upcoming OND rains and demonstrate how predictive information can be transformed into practical preparedness and early action.

The proposed collaboration is expected to provide valuable insights into how technology can strengthen Kenya’s disaster management capabilities by enabling authorities to move beyond responding to disasters after they occur towards anticipating risks and taking action before disasters strike.

The engagement underscores NDOC’s commitment to embracing innovation, technology and strategic partnerships in strengthening Kenya’s disaster risk management and protecting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

By combining satellite intelligence, artificial intelligence and local disaster management expertise, Kenya can strengthen its ability to see risks earlier, prepare better and act faster.