MPs have criticised the government over what they termed poor response to the El Niño rains despite early warnings by the Kenya Meteorological Department.
MPs from Northeastern region lashed out at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for "erroneously" claiming they had released floods disaster funds to counties.
They called on the President to intervene and save two million Kenyans whom he claimed are facing starvation.
“The way he is talking [Gachagua] is not befitting of that office he holds,” Dadaab MP Farah Maalim said. He said the raging floods have caused untold suffering in Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Garissa and Tana River counties.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan said the DP is yet to visit the affected region despite the floods control being in his docket.
“We implore the government to act and declare El Niño a national disaster, what we have is lip service,” Keynan said.
In the Senate, tough talking members questioned how the county and the national government have utilised the funds they set aside to mitigate against the effects of the rains.
“We must hold the national government accountable for billions of monies that were put in place to deal with floods and complement those that the county governments had put in place,” Migori Senator Eddy Oketch said.
At least 60 people have died and property of unknown value destroyed in the raging floods, especially in the Coast and Northeastern region.
The lawmakers suspended their normal business to discuss the rains wreaking havoc in the country.
“We know very well that a few months ago, around April and March, we heard the Meteorological Department cautioning the country that we need to have a serious disaster preparedness,” he said.
“Even if this is not the magnitude that we expect of El Niño, it is still destructive enough to make it difficult for the country.”
The lawmakers questioned how the funds announced to have been set aside by the national and county governments have been spent to mitigate against the effects of the heavy rains.
“If resources have been put in place to deal with floods and serious issues of emergencies and those monies are nowhere to help people now, where did they go to?” he posed.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana asked the state to intensify interventions to save lives and property.
“This rainfall in various parts of the country, especially the highlands, has resulted in flooding of the lowlands in our country. Those that have been badly affected are those in the coastal areas in this country,”
Citing state statistics, Mungatana said at least 80,000 households have been affected at the Coast.
“Farms and homes have been submerged while animals have been swept away, because of the waters that are coming down. We have lost lives to the continuous heavy rains that have hit the nation.” he said.
Mungatana asked for provision of helicopters to areas that have been cut off by the floods.
“We want to ask the national government to double its efforts in supplying foodstuff, temporary shelter, medicines and fresh water to various people who have been affected by these floods,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the government to create a special programme for the Northeastern and coastal areas which have been affected badly by these floods.
“We are calling upon the national government to put money into the rehabilitation of infrastructure; the roads and the schools,” he said.
Senator Oketch asked the government to treat the current situation as an emergency and respond appropriately to save lives.
“I would encourage the national government to see this as a serious national crisis,” he said.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei asked governors to explain how they have used the billions they set aside to respond to the rains.