- Public property including roads, bridges and dams worth billions have been damaged
- Ruto said if need be, force will be used to ensure safety and to avert further loss of lives and destruction
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
Forceful evacuation of people in danger of floods is on the cards, President William Ruto has announced.
This even as the Meteorological department said heavy rains are just getting started.
Ruto convened a multiagency disaster response team at State House to explore urgent interventions.
Various government agencies have given conflicting figures on the death toll, but the numbers are approaching 50.
Some 110,000 or more people have been displaced from their homes across the country.
Public property including roads, bridges and dams worth billions have been damaged.
Ruto said if need be, force will be used to ensure safety and to avert further loss of lives and destruction.
“Unfortunately, we will have to move some of the [flood victims] without their consent because otherwise, they are putting themselves in danger,” he said.
The President said the National Youth Service had been instructed to set aside land to resettle those affected.
“I have authorised the National Youth Service to move some of these people to to safe ground as we decide what to do with them,” Ruto said.
“I will be having another emergency session tomorrow with multi-agency teams to make sure we provide adequate support to all those in need and to move citizens who are in dangerous areas that may be susceptible to floods.”
He said flood response requires a multifaceted approach that involves all agencies that deal with disaster.
This includes the military, police and all the concerned ministries.
"I asked the military to support citizens, I am happy yesterday they walked with our teams in different parts of the country, including Machakos and others. We need to put everybody on their laps to overcome this short season," Ruto said.
“The rains have been truly a blessing to us as a nation and we have seen a lot of turnarounds because of the rains. We have a challenge now of floods in different areas and therefore it is important for us to be proactive, there are citizens living in very dangerous places and those are the most vulnerable at this point.”
"We need to certainly understand this so that we can inform citizens in dangerous places and relocate them. I already told the National Youth Service to provide us with land to relocate some people," Ruto said.
Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who is seconded to lead the emergency efforts, will be meeting other actors including development partners on Friday to facilitate greater collaboration.
Gachagua said the multi-agency emergency response centre has been activated from 4 pm, this afternoon and will be domiciled at Nyayo House.
"Daily alerts will be issued to inform people what is happening and to appeal to them to cooperate with state agencies and other partners to save lives," he said.
Gachagua said all internally displaced persons will be facilitated to find alternative settlements.
"In extreme cases, the National Youth Service will provide shelter to the most vulnerable members of our society," he said.
The DP urged on Kenyans to cooperate with the emergency response teams for their safety and that of their families. He said affected families will be provided with food and non-food items.
"Kenyans are requested to be careful and not to dare nature because it is dangerous to do so," Gachagua said.