- The DP said so far, Mombasa County was the only one among those affected by floods that had not released El Nino Funds.
- The governor said he has checked with other counties and they have not yet received the funds as well.
Image: HANDOUT
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir has told off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over claims that the county receiving El Nino mitigation funds.
Early on Tuesday, Gachagua said Mombasa had received the funds and urged the governor to release them in the face of heavy flooding in the Coastal county.
The DP said so far, Mombasa County was the only one among those affected by floods that had not released El Nino Funds.
But while speaking Tuesday evening during a TV interview, Governor Nassir accused Gachagua of lying while maintaining that he has not received any funds.
"For someone who says that they are a person who loves to tell the truth, it is hypocritical to not have the face of telling the truth. No, we have not received El Nino funds.
"I would love the media houses to ask the controller of budget to find out if the money was sent and which account it was sent to."
The governor said he has checked with other counties and they have not yet received the funds as well.
He said the counties have only received normal disbursements from the national revenue share.
"The Deputy President is lying, in regards to whether we have received the El Nino money, yes he is and it is unfortunate but that it is what it is.
Speaking on Tuesday while distributing food to El Nino victims, the DP said that Governor Nassir should not leave all the work to the national government.
"Sisi katika serikali kuu tutajaribu kununua chakula, lakini tunataka pia County government of Mombasa, Governor Nassir pia atoe pesa anunue chakula wananchi wapewe," he said.
"Hapa Mombasa ndio tuko na shida, ndio county government ambayo haijatoa chakula kwa wananchi. Mimi ni mtu wa kusema ukweli."
(The National Government has tried to buy food for the flood victims, but we also want the county of Mombasa, Governor Nassir to release the funds to buy food for Mombasa residents)
(Mombasa is the only county that has a problem, the only county government that has not released funds to buy food for the flood victims. I am a truthful man)
He said the affected counties should prioritise the well-being of the residents.
Mombasa was on Monday engulfed in heavy flooding rendering some families temporarily homeless.
Several pedestrians and passengers whose vehicles stalled following heavy downpour almost drowned as they attempted to wade through the rushing waters to safety.
So far, official government statistics indicates that at least 70 people have died due to floods.
At least 10 people have been killed in torrential rains that have been pounding Mombasa, Tana River, Kwale and Kilifi counties since Friday, officials said.
The Meteorological Department has warned of more rains in the coming weeks and asked for action to address the effects of the same.