According to the government, 76 Kenyans have been killed as a result of the ongoing El Nino rains, which have caused havoc across the country through floods, mudslides, and other disasters.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the Cabinet met in an emergency meeting on Monday chaired by President William Ruto and devised several interventions to help Kenyans cope with the effects of El Nino.
This follows nationwide floods that have taken lives, displaced families, and destroyed property.
“The meeting noted that 38 out of 47 counties are within the alarm stage a stage characterised by flash floods, general flooding in low-lying plains, rivers bursting their banks, landslides and mudslides, loss of livestock and destruction of farmland and infrastructure,” said Mr Mohamed.
“Cabinet noted with regret that we have lost 76 Kenyans to El Nino while 35,000 households have been displaced with the most severely affected areas are in North Eastern, Eastern and Coast regions…”
The State House spokesperson also noted that the government has allocated Ksh.7 billion to address the effects of the rains.
“The resources committed will be applied for humanitarian response including distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitation of infrastructure and resettlement of displaced families,” said Mohamed.
Mr Mohamed stated that some of the funds are intended for dairy farmers as the government moves to buy excess milk.
“To support farmers who have been adversely affected, the government has dispersed Ksh.500 million to New KCC to mop up excess milk during this rainy season,” he said.
“The government has also airlifted medical supplies worth Ksh.180 million through the KDF and in conjunction with Wajir county government.”
Mohamed also mentioned roads, bridges, and an airport that were damaged by the heavy rains and flooding.
He also stated that an ad hoc Cabinet committee on disaster response has been formed, to be chaired by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“The emergency session of cabinet concluded by reassuring all Kenyans that the government is doing everything within its power to return the situation to normalcy,” said the State House spokesperson.
