The government has announced that the ongoing El Nino has killed at least 76 Kenyans rains that have wreaked havoc across the country from floods, mudslides, and associated disasters.
Speaking on Monday, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said that the Cabinet, in an emergency meeting chaired by President William Ruto, came up with several interventions to help mitigate the effects of the El Nino on Kenyans.
"The meeting noted that 38 out of 47 counties are within the alarm stage a stage characterised by flash floods, general flooding in low-lying plains, rivers bursting their banks, landslides and mudslides, loss of livestock and destruction of farmland and infrastructure.”
"Cabinet noted with regret that we have lost 76 Kenyans to El Nino while 35,000 households have been displaced with the most severely affected areas are in North Eastern, Eastern and Coast regions..." he said.
The State House spokesperson also noted that the government has allocated Kes 7 billion to address the effects of the rains.
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"The resources committed will be applied for humanitarian response including distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitation of infrastructure and resettlement of displaced families.”
Part of the money, Mr. Mohamed said, is meant for dairy farmers as the government moves to buy excess milk.
"To support farmers who have been adversely affected, the government has dispersed Kes 500 million to New KCC to mop up excess milk during this rainy season," he said.
"The government has also airlifted medical supplies worth Kes 180 million through the KDF and in conjunction with Wajir county government."
Mohamed also listed roads, bridges and an airport that have been repaired after the heavy rains and floods damaged them.
He also said that an ad-hoc Cabinet committee was set up on disaster response to be chaired by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
