Residents not impressed by counties’ huge budgets for El Niño rains preparedness

Workers construct a drainage trench on Nyerere Road, Eldoret Town on October 6, 2015 in preparation for the El Niño rains. Some North Rift residents feel that allocating over Sh50 million “for something that is only expected” is ill-advised and extravagant. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Nandi County allocated the highest amount to disaster preparedness, voting Sh500 million for the purpose.
  • Mr Kiprotich Cherargei, the Nandi Team Transparency Group chairman, said the county does not have a history of landslides and floods that would justify the Sh500 million.
  • Uasin Gishu allocated Sh200 million, with the Environment executive expected to lead a drainage unblocking drive in Eldoret Wednesday.

Counties have been accused of turning anticipated El Niño rains into cash cows.

Some North Rift residents feel that allocating over Sh50 million “for something that is only expected” is ill-advised and extravagant.

The national government has allocated Sh8 billion for disaster preparedness.

Part of the cash will be used to mobilise the National Youth Service, police and the Kenya Red Cross in case of flood-related disasters.

In the North Rift, Nandi County allocated the highest amount to disaster preparedness, voting Sh500 million for the purpose.

Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott said the county wanted to be well prepared for any disaster arising from the rains.

Residents were, however, not impressed.

“It is upsetting that the national and county governments have parallel budgets for disaster preparedness.

"This is just stealing from the taxpayer,” said Mr James Some, a businessman in Eldoret.

The Nandi County government was on the spot earlier this year when it emerged that it spent Sh35 million on a gate separating it from Uasin Gishu.

Tindiret Sub-County in Nandi is mainly surrounded by escarpments and hills while areas of Chemase are flat and likely to experience floods.

QUESTIONED ALLOCATION

But, according to Mr Kiprotich Cherargei, the Nandi Team Transparency Group chairman, the county does not have a history of landslides and floods that would justify the Sh500 million.

He claimed the allocation is among “the many crafted schemes to squander taxpayers, money.”

“Nandi has not encountered what can be called very serious floods and mudslides.

“We have had mild cases over the past decade but the magnitude cannot warrant such big sums of money,” he said.

Mr Cherargei, who is also a lawyer, says the county leadership has a history of allocating too much funds on small projects, and huge amounts ending up in individuals’ pockets.

“Health staff at hospitals in the county have not fully gone back to work due to salary problems,” he said.

Elsewhere, Uasin Gishu allocated Sh200 million, with the Environment executive expected to lead a drainage unblocking drive in Eldoret Wednesday.

Trans Nzoia County allocated Sh93 million while West Pokot executives will hold a meeting on Friday to discuss the Sh50 million initial allocation and probably increase it.

On Tuesday, Turkana Deputy Governor Peter Lokoel said his county is well prepared but will Thursday announce the amount allocated.