Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua has announced that the national government will not be providing funds for flood response efforts, as the country fights one of its disastrous floods seen in recent years.
The announcement is coming after the governor of Mombasa, one of the counties that was severely impacted by the ongoing floods, challenged Mr Gachagua’s earlier claim that the government had sent counties about 10 billion Kenyan shillings ($65m;£52m) as flood relief.
Last week, flash floods killed about 13 people in Mombasa and three others from neighbouring counties.
Mr Gachagua had on Wednesday, November 22 expressed shock that governors were complaining that were yet to receive funds for El Nino, remarking that such money would not be forthcoming.
“We expect them to use the emergency money within their financial provision or reallocate money within their respective budget to intercede for the people they rule”. Gachagua had said.
The Kenya Red Cross has announced that the country’s total flood-related death toll is at 71.
The ongoing heavy rains and flooding – caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon – have killed 130 people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, according to the non-profit organization, Oxfam.
