Govt to spend Sh1 billion more on flood victims

President Uhuru Kenyatta greets Moi Forces Academy pupils and teachers after launching the tree planting drive at the school on May 12, 2018. He urged people to conserve the environment. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  DAVID MWERE

What you need to know:

  • The amount will complement the Sh1.5 billion budget allocated for disaster management in the current financial year.
  • To avert further disasters, those residing in high-risk areas have been urged to relocate to safer grounds.
  • The Ministry of Environment is working to increase forest cover from 7.2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2022.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government has set aside Sh1 billion to assist flood victims.

"Even as we plant trees, I begin on a sombre note. Many Kenyans have lost their lives while others have been displaced as a result of floods. The cases in Tana River and Nakuru are very distressing," President Kenyatta said on Saturday during the launch of the national tree planting campaign at Moi Forces Academy in Nairobi.

The amount is on top of the Sh1.5 billion budget allocated for disaster management in the current financial year.

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DONATIONS

The funds will be managed by the Kenya Red Cross Society, which has been leading the humanitarian support programme since the onset of the heavy rains in March.

"The government will give every support required to ensure that Kenyans do not suffer," Mr Kenyatta said.

The President also said that the European Union has donated €1.5 million (Sh180 million), Netherlands €1 million and the United Kingdom €1.3 million, an addition to the €400,000 it had donated earlier.

Most parts of the country have endured destruction caused by floods.

The recent and most catastrophic incident occurred in Solai, Nakuru County, on Wednesday when the walls of a private dam collapsed, causing the water to cascade killing at least 44 people.

MINERS

In Tana River, the situation is dire after it emerged that 70 per cent of the county is covered by flood water after River Tana broke its banks.

In Migori County, six gold miners were buried alive after a heavy downpour.

To avert further disasters, those residing in high-risk areas have been urged to relocate to safer grounds.

Regarding the country's forest cover, Mr Kenyatta said the government is planning to plant at least 1.8 billion trees by 2022, saying this would help mitigate the effects of climate change.

CONSERVATION

To imbue the spirit of environment conservation among Kenyans, Mr Kenyatta announced the establishment of the Presidential Environment Award Scheme, which will recognise management and conservation champions.

Also, he wants climate change education integrated in the curriculum.

The Ministry of Environment is working to increase forest cover from 7.2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2022.

Deputy President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretaries Keriako Tobiko (Environment) and Raychelle Omamo (Defence), and other senior government officials, attended the event.

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