Ruto Bows to Pressure, Calls for Crisis Meeting on El Nino

President William Ruto will convene a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday, November 25, over the increasing threats posed by the enhanced rains. 

Addressing the media on Saturday at State House, Ruto stated that the rains are expected to continue, and that the country was already soaked with water.

As such, Ruto said that there is a risk of increased flooding.

The Head of State further stated that there were already cases of waterborne diseases and threats posed by swollen water reservoirs, hence necessitating a strategy.

According to him, the National Treasury has been tasked to come up with ways of raising funding for the various state agencies involved in disaster management.

Consequently, the Treasury will Monday make a presentation on their findings in the cabinet meeting. 

“Some of our dams will be full and therefore there will be need for information to ensure that as our dams fill up citizens are informed,” he stated.

“Treasury has been mandated to explore different mechanisms of funding for the requirements that will be needed so that we can adequate resources to manage the situation and their recommendations will be presented in the cabinet meeting on Monday.”

In addition, the President urged Kenyans to take advantage of the rains to maximize agricultural productivity. 

In terms of measures taken to counter the foods, Ruto assured that adequate interventions are being put in place to ensure relief supplies are available to the victims of floods country wide.

Further, the President announced that alternative routes will be provided to the roads that have been washed away. 

This, according to the President, will ensure delivery of supplies to areas that have been cut off by the floods.

KDF will also airlift commodities to different parts of the country marooned by floods and NYS officers mobilized to provide emergency intervention.

He spoke after meeting with senior government officials including Chief of Defense Forces Major Francis Ogolla and Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome.

Ruto under pressure over El Nino remarks

His statement came on the back of increased deaths related to the heavy rains pounding different parts of the country.

On Friday, November 24 evening, the President conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims who died in various floods related incidents.

However, Ruto also came under pressure from some people who challenged him to take responsibility over his earlier statement noting that the El Nino threat had faded.

Several agencies have since issued warnings of expected overflows in different dams and therefore necessitating movement to higher grounds.

On Friday, November 24 for instance, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir advised communities living downstream in the Seven Folks area to be on high alert.

Also Read: Floods Unearth Dead Bodies Amid El Nino Rains

According to Chirchir, people living close to the river should consider moving to safer grounds to avert loss of life and minimize destruction of property in case of overflowing.

In addition, the Karimenu II Dam in Gatundu North, Kiambu County was reported to be at 99.7% and was expected to overflow in matter of days.

The development came days after a tussle between the national government and the county government regarding funds required to adequately respond to the rains.

Floods: Survivor Recalls Last Moments Before Matatu was Swept Away Killing 8

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had initially announced that the state had issued Ksh10 billion to the counties for the El Nino response.

However, governors came out to refute the claims leaving questions on which of the two sides was depicting the real situation amid a surge in floods-related deaths.