Government to Launch National Disaster rescue centre to lead El Niño emergency response

Nairobi,

Saturday, 25 November, 2023. 

McCreadie Andias 

The Government has announced heightened measure to respond to the floods Havoc caused by the El Niño rains in the county. 

President William Ruto in a state House meeting on Saturday announced that he will lead a cabinet meeting on Monday to set up a National Disaster response center that will help mitigate the effects of the El Niño rains and co-ordinate the emergency response. 

"The Government has activated a response mechanism to assist Kenyans affected by floods across the country. The National Disaster Operation Centre will co-ordinate the emergency response. The Cabinet will meet on Monday to finalise a concrete intervention strategy."President William Ruto saud in a statement. 

President William Ruto saud as he hosted agencies that deal with various aspects of disaster response,Cabinet Secretaries, Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru, Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla, Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome, among others at State House. 

President William Ruto said at least 70 lives have been lost and 36,000 households displaced following the intense downpour.

He noted that the rains would continue, hence the need to prepare for unfolding emergencies.

He said the country is better prepared going into the future, especially with the onboarding of the County Governments.

The President explained that the Government has made available resources to ensure vulnerable cases access adequate food.

President Ruto added that the Kenya Defence Forces will provide last mile deliveries by air especially in counties swept by floods. 

Additionally, the National Youth service and the Provincial administration will help in rescue operations and ensuring that all Kenyans living in flood prone areas are safe. 

Meanwhile, the President asked Kenyans to take advantage of the rains and engage in farming adding that the subsidized fertilizer will be made available to all farmers to boost yields. 

As a major humanitarian intervention to boost the response to El Niño rains and flooding in the country, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have appealed a Ksh 3.1 Billion to support the Kenya Red Cross in response to the El Niño rains.