Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has announced the government's decision to increase efforts to assist people affected by raging floods caused by the ongoing heavy rains across the country.
In a statement issued Thursday, Kindiki stated that President William Ruto's directive of the Interior Ministry's National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) has increased coordination of multi-agency response interventions by relevant government ministries, state agencies, and humanitarian organizations to assist affected individuals.
"The National Police Service (NPS) is coordinating search and rescue operations by land and air, and the Kenya Red Cross is supplementing the measures. The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) has also been directed to step up its response operations," he said.
The Interior CS also stated that County Security Teams across the country have been directed to collaborate with County Government officials to ensure the mandatory evacuation of those in danger.
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He also stated that the government is mobilizing to provide food and non-food supplies to those who have been displaced.
"All available financial and human resources as well as public equipment are being deployed to mitigate the adverse effects of the raging waters on life, livestock, crops, and property," Kindiki said.
He added that the Meteorological Department and Road Agencies would issue frequent public advisories in areas prone to heavy rainfall.
Motorists and pedestrians are strongly advised to avoid risky behavior in flood-prone or excessively wet areas.
He urged the public to work with safety, health, risk, emergency, and communication teams who have been dispatched to monitor and oversee assistance to those in distress.
Heavy rains have pounded various regions of the country, with the Kenya Meteorological Department predicting that the situation will last until May 2024.
Heavy rain caused rivers and dams to burst, submerging homes. Flood victims in some areas have been forced to wait on treetops and roofs until the waters recede before seeking refuge.
The Kenya Red Cross has issued a warning that the country's flood situation has escalated from emergency to disaster, with 38 people killed as a result of the ongoing floods.
