Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Senator Edwin Sifuna have reacted to reports about plans by Nairobi County to buy motorboats as part of the El Nino preparedness plan.
Replying to a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sakaja sent two laughing emojis and the word ‘surely’ as a reaction to the news.
Earlier, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed his shock to the news replied to the same post with “This cannot be true.”
Nairobi County plans to buy motorboats, rafts and inflatable boats to help in the disaster management during the El Nino rains within the month of October.
Bramuel Simiyu, the chairman of the Nairobi County El Nino task force, made the announcement on Wednesday in an interview.
“It is part of what we are planning to procure in the next one week. Inflatable boats and at least some motorboats to be able to allow us to access flooded areas,” Simiyu stated.
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Other Plans by Nairobi on Dealing With El Nino
According to Simiyu, the county is well prepared to handle the El Nino threat adding that the county is weel equipped with tools and manpower.
“We have mobilized assets to allow us to intervene and I am confident that we have the tools and the equipment in terms of the lorries, the excavators.
“Most importantly however, we have the manpower that is at the forefront of leading this fight to ensure that the storm water finds its natural pathway,” Simiyu stated.
How Will Nairobi County Help Those Affected
Further he noted that the county had identified alternative shelters for those living in riparian land susceptible to flooding including adding that they will be accommodated in schools, churches and social halls.
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At the same time, he called on those living in riparian lands to voluntarily move to safer grounds in preparation for El Nino.
Further, he stated that the Nairobi County government would build affordable housing for those living in riparian lands especially, in eastlands area.
Simiyu also stated that the county government will offer psychological support counselling to those affected by the ecological grief and county staff on the front line.
