Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has told President William Ruto to allow Embakasi fire victims relocate to complete affordable houses.
Babu Owino criticized the government for failing to honor the promise made by Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua to resettle the victims within one hour after their houses were burnt down on Thursday, February 1, 2024.
The MP urged President Ruto to be humane and start the affordable housing project with the affected Embakasi families.
“These are the first victims who should be given houses, there are houses here at Ngara which are complete. Why can’t they be taken there, we only need around 300 units for these people to be resettled,” he said.
He firmly opposed proposals that the affected families should leave the Embakasi City Hall.
Babu Owino Attacks Nairobi County
The ODM MP also slammed the Nairobi County government for donating only Ksh.250,000 out of the Ksh.250 million allocated for disaster emergencies.
“The budget for disaster management is Ksh.245 million and out of this the county government is giving Ksh.250,000 not from an individual but from the county government of Nairobi,” Babu noted.
He affirmed that the victims will not leave the Hall until there is sufficient evidence that they can be resettled well because they are also Kenyans.
“How can a person be so inhuman to an extent that people who are burnt here must be forced out just because we are saying that we can’t take care of them?” asked the MP.
Why the Victims Won’t Leave
He explained that the victims suffered serious burns and exposing their skin to the sun will lead to dehydration and possible death.
Besides, the MP said their burnt skin will also be exposed to infections.
“We are destroying the lives of these people and sending them to their graves. We will not allow that as a leader on moral authority and humanitarian ground,” he said.
Also Read: Embakasi Fire: 4 Arrested as DCI Unmasks Five Wanted Suspects
“We will not allow these people to leave here until the county government which has a kitty of Ksh.245 million that should allocate sufficient money for these people to rent houses,” added Babu Owino.
Besides, he stated that the victims will be out of work for the next six months and will need enough money for food, clothes, rent, medical checkups and school fees.
“These people will not work for the next 6 months because it takes at least 4 months for a burn to heal. We need food for these people, they cannot rely on rice and beans because they need a balanced diet to recover,” said Babu.
Also Read: Owner of Illegal Gas Plant in Embakasi Surrenders to Police
Don’t Take Political Sides
He explained that the leaders will be liable should the victims die after being forced out of the Hall.
He urged the national government and the Nairobi City County to help the fire victims without taking political sides.
“Let us take care of these people as normal human beings without bringing in politics and as the MP, I will not allow these people to leave here unless they are settled well,” he said.
He dismissed the county’s allocation adding that he contributed Ksh.1 million as an individual.
“The least amount of money that Nairobi County should give is Ksh.100,000 per person,” he said.
He revealed that Azimio leader Raila Odinga contributed Ksh. 1 million while other MPs have raised a total of Ksh,3 million.
