• In the ongoing relief and recovery efforts, The State Department of Special Programmes has distributed over 4,604.6 metric tonnes of food items.
• This includes rice, beans, fortified flour and corned beef to affected Counties.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
At least 7,878 learning institutions have been affected by the El Nino rains as of January 5, 2024.
This is according to The National El Nino Emergency and Disaster Response Command Centre.
With the focus being made on restoring damaged infrastructure, the government on Friday said that renovations are ongoing in the affected schools ahead of their re-opening.
Still on infrastructure, road repair efforts are ongoing on the Gamba –Witu road in Tana River County and Kona Punda – Mororo in Garissa County.
The Emergency Centre noted the number of displaced households has been reduced to 15,208 across 79 camps, from the initial 170 camps hosting 109,179 displaced households.
In the ongoing relief and recovery efforts, The State Department of Special Programmes has distributed over 4,604.6 metric tonnes of food items.
This includes rice, beans, fortified flour and corned beef to affected Counties.
The Ministry of Health has dispatched 257 Metric tonnes of assorted supplies and products to affected areas.
"Cholera Treatment Units have been set up in strategic health facilities."
In addition, the government has reminded Kenyans to be updated with the weather forecast updated.
"As we transition from the El Niño rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department has released an extended forecast indicating predominantly sunny and dry conditions across most of the Country until at least the end of January 2024," reads the statement.
However, regions including the Lake Victoria basin, Southern Rift Valley, South-Eastern lowlands, Highlands East of the Rift Valley, and South Coast region are expected to experience sporadic rainfall.
Already, the El Nino floods in the country have claimed 174 lives.
The National El Nino Emergency and Disaster Response Command Centre in a statement on Friday said that the floods claimed 133 adults and 41 children.
With animals not being spared, 6,706 animals mainly goats and sheep were also lost.
"The agricultural sector has also been severely impacted with crop devastation affecting around 84,568 acres," reads the statement.
The state has estimated damages to the agricultural sector amounting to Sh16.26 billion.
The worst-hit counties by El Nino were Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Homabay, and Kitui which pose a serious threat to food security.
The government has also focused on implementing cash transfer programs in collaboration with other organisations.
"The Hunger Safety Net Programme and organisations such as the World Food Programme, Plan International, World Vision, and Arid Lands Development Focus Kenya have been instrumental in implementing cash transfer programs, benefiting 9,858 affected households," the statement reads.