By Blessing Chinagorom
Kenyan President, William Ruto on Friday has chaired a cabinet meeting for the second time this week to deliberate on extra measures to mitigate the devastating effects of flooding, mudslides and landslides in many parts of the country.
According to the statement from the State of Kenya, the Cabinet noted that more citizens who have been affected by flooding, mudslides and landslides are increasingly receiving help with food and non-food items from the government working with other partners.
Media Bypass News reports that flooding and heavy rains in Kenya have killed no less than 70 people since mid-March, according to the govt spokesperson, while twice as many as were reported earlier this week.
Kenya and other countries in East Africa — a region highly vulnerable to climate change — have been lashed by severe downpours in recent weeks with more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the floods, the report said, 22 others injured and eight reported missing.
The Government has proposed 3.3 billion Kenyan shillings ($24.5m) for an “initial emergency response”, which includes repairing infrastructure, emergency housing and food assistance.
Sixty-four public schools in Nairobi – nearly a third of the total number in the capital – have been “substantially affected” by the flooding, said Belio Kipsang, the principal secretary for education.
The adverse effects of weather conditions on schools, Cabinet was informed that infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, halls, toilets, latrines fences and perimeter walls, has been destroyed. Some schools have been flooded, while others are being occupied by people who have been displaced by mudslides, landslides and floods.
In its extra measures, the Cabinet endorsed the Ministry of Education’s decision to postpone the reopening of schools by one week, stating that schools will now reopen on May 6.
This is to repair and rehabilitate destroyed school infrastructure, while the Cabinet directed that the Ministry of Education works with the National Government Constituency Development to this effect.
The Cabinet was briefed on the weather forecast for the next three months, which shows that average to above average rains will continue in all parts of the country. Consequently, flooding is expected in low-lying areas as are landslides and mudslides.
Noting that flooding, mudslides, landslides and other extreme weather conditions are a result of climate change, Cabinet resolved that the government, from now on, will rally the country in implementing measures, programmes and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change.