Cabinet to meet on Monday over El Nino intervention
National
By
Esther Nyambura
| Nov 25, 2023
At least 70 people have died so far from the effects of the ongoing rains, and over 36,000 households displaced, President William Ruto has said.
The Head of State on Saturday, November 25, summoned various government officials in a bid to come up with different intervention measures to enable them deal with the heavy rains and flooding experienced in different parts of the country.
"We have concluded a meeting of various multi-agency teams that are involved in accessing, managing and providing leadership on the current situation in the country. The rains have resulted in an emergency situation in Kenya," noted Ruto.
"The Met Department is telling us these rains will continue and we therefore need to prepare for the emergency situation that is going to ensue," he added.
According to the President, the ongoing situation requires short and long term measures.
Among the short terms interventions that are to be effected immediately is the use of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) services to airlift supplies to flood victims in different parts of the country.
With some of the roads flooded, the use of air services will offer a quick disaster response.
"I have instructed KDF to provide their air services to airlift any commodities required in different parts of the country and I have been assured that will be rolled out immediately."
Further, all road contractors in the country will be mobilized for emergency response and to ensure that all clogged roads are cleared.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health together with the Council of Governors and the Kenya Red Cross have been urged to partner and ensure that drugs and water treatment are well distributed to the affected areas.
The Ministry of Energy on the hand has been directed to inform the country when dams are full.
According to Ruto, this will ensure that if residents need to evacuate the area, they do so before the dams overflow and cause preventable damage.
Long term measures will be discussed on Monday during a cabinet meeting