A list of 38 counties under the warning stage for El Nino rainfall

A list of 38 counties under the warning stage for El Nino rainfall was disclosed during the Cabinet meeting that was called on Monday, November 27.

Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday, November 27, 2023, to evaluate the effects of extreme weather, which included above-average brief showers that the Meteorological Department had identified as the El-Nino phenomena, the counties were made public.

El Nino-caused rainfall has caused extensive flooding, which has resulted in fatalities, family relocations, disease outbreaks, damage to property and infrastructure, and protracted power outages.

President William Ruto reports that with the heavy rainfall, at least 70 lives have been lost and 36,000 homes have been relocated.

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 are some of the worst impacted counties.

Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Baringo, Bomet, Kajiado, Kericho, Nandi, Narok, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, and Nairobi are some of the other locations.

The State has allotted Ksh7 billion, which it is using to carry out a number of programs aimed at alleviating the suffering of Kenyans around the nation, as the Cabinet pointed out. The Cabinet stated in a despatch on Monday that the monies were authorized by Parliament under the Contingencies Fund as part of the FY2023/24 budget and Supplementary Appropriations No. I of FY 2023/24.

The money will go toward humanitarian relief, which includes resettling displaced families, restoring infrastructure, and distributing and supplying food and non-food supplies as well as medical supplies.

The Cabinet also disclosed that Ksh10 billion of the National Treasury’s shared revenue was distributed last week to County Governments to aid them in handling the crisis circumstances in their various regions.

President Ruto on relief for El Nino

In order to coordinate reactions, the President declared that a National Disaster Operation Center has been operationalized.

“Sufficient measures have been implemented to address the developing issue.”

The President clarified that resources have been made available by the government to guarantee that those who are at risk receive enough food.

He continued by saying that the Kenya Defence Forces would fly last-mile goods, particularly to districts inundated by flooding.

“To guarantee Kenyans’ safety, we will also mobilize the Provincial Administration and the National Youth Service.”

The President of Kenya urged people to farm and take advantage of the rains in the interim.