As the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hosted governors and other stakeholders during the El-Nino Response and Impact Mitigation Strategic meeting at his Karen residence in Nairobi, he assured them of the government’s commitment to tackle any emergencies that might arise as a result of El Nino.
The Deputy President revealed that officers from the Kenya Defence Forces would be on standby to provide support countrywide.
The Deputy President acknowledged the importance of working together to unclog drainages and prepare for the heavy rains.
He encouraged county governments to take action and build artificial waterways to limit surface runoff water and reduce the risk of flooding, particularly in residential areas.
The National Youth Service was identified as a reserve army for the country when there are challenges, and they will be available to help counties that have cities and towns in cleaning and unclogging the drainage system so that the problem can be prevented before it gets worse.
In his address, Gachagua singled out Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru as cities highly likely to be affected by flooding as a result of blocked waterways.
He urged counties to act fast and prepare for the upcoming El Nino that would begin in October and last till December.
Gachagua named several counties that were likely to be devastated by the upcoming El Nino.
He emphasized that these regions were either in the Rift Valley or West of the Rift Valley, and home to more than half of the Kenyan population.
Therefore, it is important to be proactive and prevent the situation from getting worse.
In conclusion, the government is committed to using all available resources to tackle the challenges posed by El Nino.
The Kenya Defence Forces will be on standby to provide support, while the National Youth Service will help in cleaning and unclogging the drainage system.
County governments are urged to take action and build artificial waterways to reduce the risk of flooding and protect residents from the upcoming El Nino.
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/93382-gachagua-says-govt-will-deploy-kdf-officers-over-el-nino
By Newshub