The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) issued a directive requiring all telecommunications companies to transmit government‑approved emergency bulk SMS messages to every active subscriber as Kenya prepares for the upcoming El Niño rains.

The order temporarily lifts the usual opt‑in and opt‑out rules that apply to commercial messaging, allowing alerts to reach users even if they have blocked promotional texts or enabled Do‑Not‑Disturb settings.

Operators must use designated platforms, including short code 1590, to deliver approved emergency preparedness and public‑safety messages disseminated by the government.

The CA also instructed telcos not to apply any opt‑out mechanisms to these alerts and to give priority to their rapid delivery across all networks.

CA Director General David Mugonyi said the measure falls within licence obligations for early‑warning, disaster‑preparedness, simulation notifications and El Niño‑related public‑safety alerts.

The directive supports a National Early Warning System (NEWS) simulation scheduled for 2 October 2026, testing the ability to reach the entire subscriber base before the expected heavy rains.

The CA cited constitutional provisions that require the state to publish vital information affecting the nation and to ensure citizens have access to safety‑related data.

The directive comes amid warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Services Authority that October‑December rains could be above average, with several central and eastern counties likely to experience heavy rainfall from the second to third week of October.