Sh450 billion needed for disasters

Kenya needs close to Sh450 billion for disaster and hunger management in line with Vision 2030, the disaster management strategy paper under formulation by the Drought and Disaster Management Authority has revealed. Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands PS Lawrence Lenayapa said the money will be sourced from development partners and the government to help address disasters emanating mostly from climate change.

Lenayapa was speaking at a workshop in Mombasa on Thursday to review the paper that will be presented to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is the coordinating organ of the drought and disaster contingent fund globally, and other development partners. “We will share this paper with IGAD which is coordinating the whole process at development level. We will also share this paper with other development partners in Nairobi including World Bank and European Union. “We are trying as a government to address drought emergencies. This is part of the framework on how to tackle drought that has wreaked havoc in close to 23 counties in Kenya. The total budget according to the paper is Sh450billion,” said Lenayapa.

Lenayapa said the paper is in tandem with Vision 2030 and cannot be implemented in one phase. Arid Lands minister Mohamed Elmi, who officially opened the workshop, said the Sh2 billion allocated by Treasury in the recent budget is not enough but will provide a good starting point for disaster management.

Elmi said lack of funds in the past brought about ideas like the 'Kenyans for Kenya' initiative whenever disasters arose. “We have been given Sh2 billion in this year’s budget and this will only be used for early and immediate response as the government deliberates on the next move on how to mitigate disaster when it arises. The money will be disbursed through the line ministries to affected areas,” said Elmi.