Stop blame game on El Nino and rescue Kenyans

Bamburi residents hold unto each other as they walk through flood waters. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

The blame game between the national and county governments over funds meant to mitigate and respond to ongoing El Nino rains does not bode well for thousands of Kenyans battling floods.

Indeed, over 60 people have died and thousands of households displaced by the raging floods. This was after the Kenya Meteorological Department had warned of El Nino rains earlier in the year and called for disaster preparedness. The rains might not have come at the exact predicted months, but here they are and the authorities cannot claim to have been caught unawares.

There was enough time to prepare and move people living in lower grounds to relatively safe areas. But as usual, there was lethargy and possibly misuse of monies meant to handle floods.

However, the claim by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the national government had disbursed Sh10 billion to counties prone to flooding, then an immediate response from the Council of Governors that no such funds had been given to county governments, is disheartening.

The ping pong between the two levels of government only exposes a lack of empathy and concern for suffering Kenyans. The National Treasury was aware of the need to disburse money for El Nino rains response to county governments. It was also aware of the counties that are most prone to the phenomenon. Why didn't the Treasury allocate funds for such measures early enough? It is unacceptable to feign ignorance, while lives and properties are at risk.

The national government also has the National Contingency Fund, which can quickly be allocated to El Nino response and averts deaths. The digging of trenches, building dykes and unclogging sewerage lines should have been given priority after the weather man's warning.

As the rains continue, the governors must also not sit pretty, waiting for help. They must provide resources and leadership to avert more deaths from flooding. Preserving lives and protection of property should be their foremost goal now.