Devolution focus: Week counties asked for help as floods wreaked havoc

During an eventful week, governors united in their demand for funds from the national government for El Nino mitigation.

A dispatch from the Cabinet this week showed that the number of Kenyans who have died as a result of the ongoing rains has risen to 76 across the country.

At least 35,000 households, it states, have been displaced.

The most severely affected areas are in the North-Eastern, Eastern and Coast regions.

Here is what other governors said

Abdullswamad Nassir (Mombasa)

The county has been the most affected with the county boss being the first to raise concern blaming the government for failing to release funds.

"We have received zero funding from the national government to mitigate El Nino effects," he said. 

Nassir added that the resources the county is currently using as floods wreak havoc in Mombasa are from individual pockets. 

"Everything we are doing, we are doing on our own and with local partners that have been able to assist us," he said. 

The governor also dismissed reports that the flooding being experienced in parts of the county is due to poor drainage systems.

James Orengo (Siaya)

He claimed the government had failed to honour the promises it made to Kenyans.

"The truth is that the national government has not disbursed even a cent for the county governments for El Nino," he added.

Gideon Mung'aro (Kilifi)

He noted that the county was currently relying on donor partners for support adding they had set aside Sh50 million for the emergency.

"Sisi hatujapata hela zozote, kama ziko njiani tutangoja," he said.

At least nine people, he noted, had lost their lives as a result with over 3,000 families being affected.

Ochillo Ayacko (Migori)

He voiced similar concerns saying as a county they are only assisting the families affected by providing food and non-food items.

Over 450 affected households in Angugo, Nyora, Konyango, Kabuto, and Modi villages in Nyatike constituency had received the supplies with the county planning to build shelters for those whose homes were destroyed by the rains.

Kiarie Badilisha (Nyandarua)

The county, he noted, had access to only Sh5 million from their emergency.

"We had planned and that is why we set aside this money. So far, all those affected, especially in Githabai Ward, have been provided with food and shelter," he said.

Kawira Mwangaza (Meru)

She said lack of funds had made it difficult for her administration to assist residents in the two subcounties of Tigania East and Tigania West who have lost crops as a result of floods.

"We had an emergency fund but there was very little in it," she said.

Dhadho Godhana (Tana River)

He said they formed a seven-member committee to mobilize resources to assist families affected by the floods.

While inaugurating the team, the governor said the team which includes the private sector, civil society and media personnel will work closely with the county emergency response department.

"The committee to help government agencies in looking for food and non-food items to help communities currently in dire need of assistance," he said.

Mohamud Ali (Marsabit)

He appealed to the partners and well-wishers to join the county government in supporting families that have been affected.

"We are in a situation where even people with money can't buy anything because the nearest towns are unreachable," he said.

Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga)

Following the directive by the government that governors should use funds in their coffers to mitigate the effects of El Nino, the county boss said they had allocated Sh50 million.

“We have allocated Sh50 million for El Nino Emergency and we have also factored money to fund various projects in the Supplementary budget for the 2023/2024 financial year,” he stated.

He added that the funds will help caution the effects of El Nino in the County and that he had already put in place a response committee to respond to any emergency that will be caused.

The week also saw Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua say counties had received Sh10 billion for the emergency response.

He hit out at the governors for doing little to help the families affected.

"We don’t want to see any governor blaming the national government for not distributing food. As the governor, you also have money,” Gachagua said in Mombasa while distributing relief food.

Ann Waiguru (COG chair)

She, however, defended the governors insisting the devolved units were yet to receive any support.

"We note with concern public utterances that suggest that county governments have received funds from the national government to support the mitigation of the devastating impact of the El Nino rains," she said after a meeting with the county bosses in Nairobi.

"It is in such times we call upon the two levels of government to come together and intensify response strategies to mitigate against the complex risks arising from the heavy rains and flooding, in addition to the existing humanitarian challenges".

During the same week, the government announced it had allocated Sh7 billion for the implementation of various programmes to address the plight of Kenyans across the country.

A Cabinet dispatch released indicated that the funds were appropriated by Parliament under the Contingencies Fund as part of the FY2023/24 budget and Supplementary Appropriations No. I of FY 2023/24.

The resources will be applied for humanitarian response, including distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitation of infrastructure and resettlement of displaced families.

Council of Governors

On Wednesday, governors attended a Resource mobilization committee consultative meeting with Development partners at Safari Park in Nairobi.

They deliberated on challenges facing the counties and strategies on how to better coordinate and support development agendas.

COG serves as a crucial platform for engaging with development partners to ensure the effective utilization of resources for maximum impact and social change