County braced for El Niño rains, Governor Ndathi asserts
Kirinyaga County Governor Joseph Ndathi speaks to Nation in his office in Kutus town, on September 30, 2015. He has said that his government is committed to ensuring problems that arise due to the El Niño rains are tackled effectively. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Governor Joseph Ndathi said Sh75 million had already been set aside while his administration expects the deficit to be plugged by the national government.
- Mr Ndathi said flooding usually happens in the Mwea lowlands and wreak havoc on rice and horticultural farms.
Kirinyaga County Governor said that his government is committed to ensuring problems that arise due to the El Niño rains are effectively tackled.
Governor Joseph Ndathi was adamant that although a serious cash flow problem has hit the county, they have already set aside Sh75 million while his administration expects the national government to meet the deficit.
Kirinyaga County, approximately, will spend Sh150 million to cope with the effects of the looming rains.
“We have spoken with the Deputy President over the matter and we hope the money will be released to the county,” Mr Ndathi told the Nation at his Kutus office on Thursday.
The rains are expected to fall this month and continue up to January, according to weather experts.
Mr Ndathi observed that flooding usually happens in the Mwea lowlands and wreak havoc on rice and horticultural farms.
Farmers incur heavy losses when their crops are swept away by floods.
“We want to ensure that there is proper drainage in rice canals and other areas prone to flooding so that the residents do not suffer when the rains set in,” he said.
Mr Ndathi said the rains bring with them an outbreak of diseases.
