The government has set up a Flood Emergency Response and Communication at the National Disaster Operations Center command post in Nyayo House to document and report flood disasters.

The command post will receive information from the country following the establishment of a multi-agency team tasked to coordinate responses to flooding that is occasioned by ongoing heavy rains.

The team, comprising of 11 Ministries and their relevant Agencies, adopting a Whole of Government Approach, will provide early warning information, flood alerts, flood preparedness, safety, and emergency response information to stakeholders and the public.

 Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo says the Council of Governors and the Red Cross Society have similarly been sanctioned to augment response and interventions being implemented.

“Saving lives and reducing the impact of the El Nino rains through early warning and disaster monitoring remains the Government’s top priority and having every actor and stakeholder working in sync is the surest way of mitigating and responding to the emergency,” said Dr. Omollo.

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To better respond to emergencies, the team has also been entrusted with coordinating with agencies in the national and local governments, mobilizing resources, and combining capacities at all levels of government.

At this time, 120 individuals have tragically lost their lives, with Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties being named as the worst affected.

There is a high warning for ten counties: Isiolo, Samburu, Kwale, Homabay, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Meru, and Kisumu.

Over 89,000 households have been displaced and hosted in 112 camps established in the affected Counties.

“The Government has distributed food, water and non-food items to a number of counties including Busia, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, Lamu, Kitui and Mombasa Counties, “ he said.

The 11 Ministries include Defence; Interior and National Administration; Roads and Transport; Health; Education; Water, Sanitation and Irrigation; Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development; Agriculture and Livestock Development; Energy and Petroleum; EAC, ASALs and Regional Development; and Labour and Social.

Five disciplined forces have also been co-opted, including the Kenya Defense Forces; the National Police Service; the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, and the National Youth Service.