President William Ruto and his ministers on Tuesday laid down measures to mitigate the effects of the ongoing torrential rains on the life, property and livelihoods of Kenyans.
So far 170 people have been confirmed dead after the floods ravaged the country. The Met Department had said Kenya will still receive more rain in the coming weeks.
In a cabinet dispatch, the Cabinet noted that the relevant government agencies have completed the mapping out of all the fragile ecosystems around the country, which pose a grave danger to public safety and health in the likely event of further precipitation.
"Cabinet directed that all members of the public residing within these risky areas are required to move out within 48 hours," it read.
These include areas near dams and other water reservoirs in public or private land, areas prone to mudslides and landslides and riparian lands along rivers and other water courses across the country.
"All members of the public affected by this directive will be notified by the end of day tomorrow, May 1," it read.
The government also put in place measures to support the evacuation and temporary shelter of those who will be affected by this directive if they require assistance.
"The government has identified public spaces in various parts of the country where those affected will be given temporary shelter together with the provision of essential food and non-food supplies," Cabinet said.
In the dispatch, all those who remain within the areas affected by the directive will be relocated forcibly in the interest of their safety.
National Government Administration officers were also directed to work with county governments, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the process of notification, evacuation and shelter provision is carried out in a timely, humane and effective manner.
According to the dispatch, the National Disaster Operations Centre will provide the coordination of government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless and coherent exercise throughout the country.
"Security agencies will enforce this directive with the support of the National Youth Service," it read.
The office of the Deputy President is expected to immediately convene a meeting bringing Government and development partners to harmonise resource mobilisation and coordinated disaster response to mitigate the further loss of lives and destruction of property and livelihoods.
The ministry said the number of Kenyans affected by the floods stands at approximately 190,942.
The counties that have been adversely affected by floods in the last 24 hours are Nairobi, Tana River, West Pokot, and Homa Bay.
Additionally, landslides and mudslides have impacted residents of Murang'a and Nakuru counties.
The Interior Ministry added that search, rescue, and retrieval operations in Nakuru due to the recent mudslide are ongoing.
