The Council of Governors (CoG) also refuted Gachagua's claim that counties received El Niño preparedness and mitigation funds from the national government.

The council stated that no such funds were deployed to counties where floods have killed 52, displaced over 80,000 families, and damaged farmland.

PHOTO | COURTESY heavy rains

"We note with concern public utterances that suggest that county governments have received funds from the national government to support the mitigation of the devastating impact of the El Niño rains," CoG chair Anne Waiguru said yesterday.

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"We take the position that such utterances are against the spirit of cooperative and collaborative governments as envisioned under the provisions of Article 6(2) of the Constitution."


PHOTO | COURTESY Waiguru

According to Ms Waiguru, 13 counties owe Sh10.17 billion for September, 27 owe Sh19.64 billion for October, and all owe Sh32.76 billion for November.

"It is in such times we call upon the two levels of government to come together and intensify response strategies to mitigate against the complex risks arising from the heavy rains and flooding, in addition to the existing humanitarian challenges," she said.

In response, Mr Gachagua, addressing at the start of the Development Partnership Forum in Karen, Nairobi, recommended counties to use their budgets to combat the consequences of El Nio.

PHOTO | COURTESY flooding


In addition, in a significant departure from his earlier position on Tuesday, he stated that the national government will not send additional funding to the counties.

"We are therefore shocked to see governors complaining that they are yet to receive money for El Niño from the national government. Such money is not forthcoming. They are expected to use emergency money within their financial provision and to re-allocate money within their budget to intervene for the people that they govern," he said.

PHOTO | COURTESY DP Gachagua

The council's admission has added to the confusion, especially as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had previously warned of an 'impending scandal' in the El Nino rain mitigation efforts.

The EACC highlighted the importance of rigorous compliance with procurement legislation in a letter to constitutional commissions, autonomous offices, and all county governments.

"It has come to the attention of the commission that there is disregard of the law, in the initiation and implementation of some mitigation measures, which is likely to give room for financial impropriety and embezzlement of public funds," said Twalib Mbarak, chief executive officer of the E

The Standard investigated the El Nio rains and discovered that the uncertainty stemmed from a weather forecast earlier this year.