Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned agencies and public officers of planning to loot funds aimed at managing the effects of El Nino.
Gachagua who was speaking during a stakeholders meeting in Karen on Thursday stated that the government will require at least Sh10 billion to manage the possible effect of El Nino rains.
“We must also know our country is doing bad...let’s be wise in our budgets, let us not exaggerate the situation,” Gachagua said.
Representing counties, Council of Governors (CoG) Chair Ann Waiguru said that they will set aside Sh15 billion in readiness of food support to affected households.
Also, CoG Health chairperson Muthomi Njuki proposed that Kemsa should move with speed and ensure that all health facilities have drugs before the rains come.
“We are calling on Kemsa to move with speed and have drugs in all our hospitals in the next two weeks as El Nino will bring along waterborne diseases,” he said.
EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano on her side said Sh9.3 billion will be required for the ASAL areas.
The Kenyan Kwanza government projected that the rains may affect the National Examinations which are set to start at the end of October.
As a result, Defence CS Aden Duale revealed that he has put the military on standby.
He announced that the Air Force would help in the distribution of the National exams in areas worse affected by the expected heavy downpour.
“Incase many roads end up being destroyed by the rains, we will use our military helicopters to help get exams to their centres,” Duale stated.
In addition, the DP said that the government aims to work round the clock to ensure no life is lost during the rains.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u was tasked to report back to a technical committee next Tuesday to outline the availability of resources to be used in the El Nino mitigation measures.
Kenya is staring at another El Niño event which is said to be stronger than those of 1997.
The World Meteorological Organisation on July 5, declared the onset of El Niño.
El Nino occurs on average every two to seven years and episodes typically last nine to 12 months.
The phenomenon usually brings heavy rains as opposed to La Nina, which brings dry weather.
El Nino conditions are expected to persist up to the October-December 2023, rainfall season and may extend to the November to January season.