Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu has called on the government agencies to ensure the highest levels of preparedness ahead of the predicted El Nino rains.
Mulu on Monday said it is unfortunate that more than 60 years after independence, the country still faces problems such as flooding and displacement.
He gave an example of Budalang’i in Busia and Nyando area in Kisumu which have experienced persistent flooding whenever it rains, leaving residents counting losses and displaced from their homes.
“We have been independent for the last 60 years and every year people are getting displaced. People are getting their houses submerged in water then they have to restart again. I think we really need to get our priorities right,” he said.
He said it was time for leaders and those who plan for emergencies to take time and see if they can come up with a long-lasting solution once and for all.
“There are cases where we might not be able to do much but we are just saying since they will occur and we can’t plan well for emergencies can we have a bit of preparedness so that it saves us,” he said.
Last week, the Kenya Metrological Department warned that above-average rain is expected in various parts of the country in October-November-December.
This is expected to lead to floods, post-harvest losses and displacement of communities, according to the forecast shared by Kenya Meteorological Department Director Dr David Gikungu.
“The highest seasonal rainfall amounts (greater than 700mm) are normally recorded over the Central highlands,” it said.
Gikungu also indicated that there is a high probability that some counties in the Northeastern region are likely to experience above-average rainfall.
“This will be driven by warmer than average Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) over the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean indicating the presence of El Niño conditions,” he said.
