President William Ruto has issued a directive to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to deploy their helicopters for the delivery of essential supplies, such as food and medicine, to areas in Kenya severely affected by the ongoing El Nino floods. The President made this announcement during a meeting at State House in Nairobi, where he discussed relief efforts with a multi-agency team.
Addressing the challenges faced by Northern Kenya counties due to heavy downpours, President Ruto highlighted the isolation of these regions, making it arduous for residents to access basic necessities. To alleviate this, he instructed the KDF to utilize their air service facilities for transporting crucial commodities to different parts of the country, especially those marooned by floods.
President Ruto emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “This will be rolled out immediately.” In addition to leveraging the capabilities of the KDF, he outlined a collaborative approach involving the National Youth Service (NYS), the engineering department at KDF, and mobilization of road contractors to provide emergency intervention services for opening impassable roads.
Anticipating a comprehensive response, President Ruto disclosed that the Cabinet would convene on Monday, November 27, to deliberate on recommendations proposed by the El-Nino mitigation team. He highlighted the coordination between the Ministry of Roads, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and other relevant agencies to ensure accessibility to trunk roads affected by the rains.
The President also addressed health concerns, revealing that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Red Cross, will supply medicine to affected areas grappling with rising cases of waterborne diseases. The Ministry of Water, working alongside the CoG, is tasked with ensuring a supply of drinking water in areas where water infrastructure has been submerged.
Concerning dam safety, the Ministry of Energy has been assigned the responsibility of alerting residents near dams about potential overflow situations to facilitate safe and timely evacuations. President Ruto underscored the importance of the provincial administration in informing citizens in landslide-prone areas in advance for proactive relocation to prevent unnecessary losses.
Acknowledging the impact of heavy rains on security, President Ruto called on the National Police Service (NPS) to ensure peace prevails in affected regions despite the challenging conditions. He also encouraged farmers in areas unaffected by floods to take advantage of moderate rains and continue their agricultural activities.
In concluding remarks, President Ruto mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture is tasked with providing necessary support to farmers, and the Treasury is exploring various funding mechanisms to aid flood mitigation efforts. The comprehensive strategy aims to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the El Nino floods, demonstrating the government’s commitment to the well-being of its citizens.
