Narok opens an Emergency and Response Center ahead of El-Nino rains

Narok,

Tuesday October 10, 2023

KNA by Ann Salaton/John Kaleke

The Narok County Government has commissioned an emergency and response center in preparation of the El-Nino rains following a prediction by the weather man that the county is a red-spot county.

Speaking during the commissioning of the office next to the Narok County Commissioner’s office, the Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said Narok Town is one of the risky areas as flash floods occur in the town every rainy season.

He recalled in the year 2015, 23 persons died and property worth over Sh. 1billion destroyed after flash floods swept across business premises in the town.

In this regard, the governor said they are unclogging all drainage systems in the town and its environs and ensuring that no structures are built within the water pathways.

“We have used our past experience to learn. We will not sit down and wait to see our people dying again and property being lost because of lack of preparedness,” he said.

Governor Ntutu said the Red-Cross Society staff will run the new office, asking the members of the public to use the toll free line: 0800722984 to call whenever there is an emergency.

At the same time, Governor Ntutu reported that over 200 military officials will be deployed to respond to any disaster that will occur as a result of the rains.

The Kenya Red-Cross Society National Governor Geoffrey Korir said the role of the society is to alleviate suffering among human beings committing to be at the forefront in responding to any form of disaster that could occur.

“In every county, we have a committee with an active chair person who coordinates all our activities. We have enough volunteers who are ready to respond to any disaster that could occur,” he said.

Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde who accompanied the governor lauded governor Ntutu for setting up an emergency and response center that will be used, not only in the El-Nino season but also in future disasters.

He called on people living in sloppy areas and along water pathways to relocate to safer places to avoid being swept away by the flash floods.

Later, the governor led his officers to inspect drainages in Narok town.

Courtesy; KNA