Declare floods a national disaster, Azimio tells Ruto

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Azimio la Umoja coalition leaders addressing the press in Nairobi. [SKM Media]

The Azimio La Umoja Coalition is urging the government to declare the current floods a national disaster.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, May 8, Azimio Co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka emphasized that declaring the floods a national disaster would prompt the necessary response for Kenya.

"We are aware that such a declaration will automatically trigger expenditure from the country’s contingency fund. Could it be that there is no money in the contingency fund? And if not, who has expended the money and on what? Kenyans want to know," posed Kalonzo.

Azimio also criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration for disregarding El Nino warnings from the weatherman late last year, while advocating for a donation of at least Sh100,000 per household for flood victims, considering the Sh10,000 offer per family as inadequate.

"We demand that the government increase financial support to at least Sh100,000 per family and immediately launch an emergency aid appeal for all flood victims in Kenya. The Red Cross estimates that the flood situation could require at least Sh7 billion,” they said.

The floods and heavy rains have resulted in over 238 fatalities, with 300,000 households displaced, and at least seventy-five (75) people reported missing. Further, 150 schools have been directly affected, residential buildings collapsed, and farms submerged.

Doctors’ strike

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Regarding the ongoing doctors' strike, Azimio has threatened to mobilize other unions and the public to a national strike, should the government fail to address the health impasse.

"We note that the Labour and Relations Court has ordered the striking doctors and the government to reach an agreement within 48 hours. While we have seen efforts by the doctors to end the strike, we are yet to see the government's commitment to do the same," the leaders said.

Additionally, the Coalition has called for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the untimely death of the late Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.

"We note with concern that the Kenya Kwanza regime has swiftly moved on, leaving the families of the departed soldiers with no assistance. They have also failed to establish a time-bound public inquiry into the cause of the chopper crash.”

According to Azimio leaders, the Kenya Air Force's internal investigation does not meet the requirement of an open, transparent, independent, and credible probe.