Cabinet reveals 38 counties are in alarm stage for El Nino
The Cabinet has revealed a list of 38 counties in the alarm stage for El Nino rains. The counties were revealed following an emergency session of Cabinet convened on Monday, November 27, 2023, to assess the impact of extreme weather as manifested in the above-normal short rains classified by the Meteorological Department as the El-Nino […]
The Cabinet has revealed a list of 38 counties in the alarm stage for El Nino rains.
The counties were revealed following an emergency session of Cabinet convened on Monday, November 27, 2023, to assess the impact of extreme weather as manifested in the above-normal short rains classified by the Meteorological Department as the El-Nino phenomenon.
The rains, resulting from El Nino, have led to widespread flooding that has led to loss of lives, displacement of families, disease outbreaks, destruction of infrastructure and property, as well as prolonged power outages.
According to President William Ruto, at least 70 lives have been lost and 36,000 households displaced following the intense downpour.
Among the most affected counties include Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Kilifi, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Kwale, Lamu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Marsabit,
Meru and Tharaka-Nithi.
Others include Homabay, Kisumu, Migori, Kisii, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Baringo, Bomet, Kajiado, Kericho, Nandi, Narok, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot and Nairobi.
“The Cabinet noted that the State had allocated Ksh7 billion with which it is implementing various programmes to address the plight of Kenyans across the country. The funds were appropriated by
Parliament under the Contingencies Fund as part of the FY2023/24 budget and Supplementary Appropriations No. I of FY 2023/24,” the Cabinet said in a despatch on Monday.
The funds will be used for humanitarian response, including the distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitation of infrastructure and resettlement of displaced families.
The Cabinet also revealed that in a bid to support County Governments in addressing the disaster situations in their respective areas, the National Treasury last week disbursed Ksh10 billion of their shareable revenue.
Ruto on El Nino aid
The President announced that a National Disaster Operation Centre has been operationalised to coordinate responses.
“Adequate interventions have been put in place to tackle the emerging crisis.”
The President explained that the Government has made available resources to ensure vulnerable cases access adequate food.
The Kenya Defence Forces, he went on, will provide last mile deliveries by air, especially in counties marooned by floods.
“We will also mobilise the National Youth Service and the Provincial Administration to ensure Kenyans are safe.”
Meanwhile, the President asked Kenyans to take advantage of the rains and engage in farming.
