Team: Government needs Sh10.5b for El Nino rains

The Government needs about Sh10.5 billion to mitigate the adverse effects of the El Nino rains expected in October.

According to an intergovernmental committee established to advise the Government on how to deal with El Nino, the country has a deficit of Sh10.5 billion to prepare the nation.

"Sh5 billion had already been set aside for emergency in addition to allocating each county government Sh20 million," said the report.

The technical team under the Interior ministry was formed two weeks ago to come up with a comprehensive plan on measures to be undertaken in specific counties to lessen the adverse effects of the anticipated floods.

The El Nino contingency strategic plan for 2014-2018 indicates that 1.5 million people could be in need of direct assistance as a result of the floods. Out of these, 500,000 are expected to be displaced from their homes by the floods and land slides.

Counties in North Eastern (Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit and Garissa), South Eastern (Kitui, Makueni, Machakos) and along the Coast (Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Taita Taveta) are expected to experience flooding. Others include historically flood prone areas like Kano plains, Budalang'i and the Tana delta.

Murang'a, Nyeri, Meru and the Rift Valley escarpment were identified as counties that are likely to experience landslides.

The team gave the report to a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Deputy President William Ruto, in which they said funds were expected to be used to buy food, medicine, tents, transport and to relocate those affected. Part of the money would also be used in repairing roads and schools in case they were ruined by the rains.

Ruto recommended that the money be sourced within ministries. "Let us use the structures that are already in existence so that we can save costs. We already have the structures and facilities, so let's find ways of using them," said Ruto.

The team presented the report during a meeting that was attended by Cabinet secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Water) and Judy Wakhungu (Environment), principal secretaries David Lesiyampe (Environment) and Mwanamaka Mabruki (Devolution) among other Government and county officials.

In the meeting, it was resolved that Government officials who perform emergency functions should not be paid allowances for what they do.

Since the El Nino rains are expected to start anytime from next week, Education ministry officials said they will airlift national examinations in case the rains made roads impassable. The examinations are set to begin in mid-October.

The United Nations Children's Fund, World Health Organisation and mobile provider Safaricom are among organisations that have come on board to help the Government ensure preparedness.