State Plans to Spend Sh10B to Mitigate El Nino Effects

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned agencies and government employees of planning to embezzle cash meant to mitigate the consequences of El Nino.

Gachagua warned at a stakeholders conference in Karen on Thursday that the government will need at least Sh10 billion to address the potential effects of El Nino rains.

“We must also know our country is doing bad…let’s be wise in our budgets, let us not exaggerate the situation,” the D.P. said.

Council of Governors (CoG) Chair Ann Waiguru, speaking on behalf of counties, stated that Sh15 billion will be set aside in preparation for food assistance to impacted households.

In addition, CoG Health chairperson Muthomi Njuki urged that Kemsa move quickly to guarantee that all health institutions receive drugs before the rains come.

“We are calling on Kemsa to move with speed and have drugs in all our hospitals in the next two weeks as El Nino will bring along waterborne diseases,” he said.

Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, stated that Sh9.3 billion will be necessary for the ASAL regions.

The Kenyan Kwanza administration predicted that the rains will have an impact on the National Examinations, which are scheduled to begin at the end of October.

As a result, Defence CS Aden Duale said that the military has been placed on alert.

He stated that the Air Force would assist in the distribution of National Examinations in areas most impacted by the expected severe rain.

“In case many roads end up being destroyed by the rains, we will use our military helicopters to help get exams to their centers,” Duale stated.

Furthermore, the DP stated that the government intends to work around the clock to guarantee that no lives are lost during the rains.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has been charged with reporting back to a technical committee on the availability of resources to be utilized in El Nino mitigation measures on Tuesday.

Kenya is bracing for another El Nio event that is expected to be stronger than the ones in 1997.

On July 5, the World Meteorological Organisation declared the start of El Nio.

El Nino occurs every two to seven years on average, with phases lasting nine to twelve months.

In contrast to La Nina, which delivers dry weather, this phenomenon typically brings torrential rainfall.