Rigathi Gachagua declares Taita Taveta worst hit county by floods, nationwide death toll rises to 154

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared Tana River County as the worst hit by the ongoing floods.

Gachagua assured residents of the government’s commitment to supply relief food and medical attention to the affected areas.

Voi River floods displace thousands of families

Gachagua’s remarks came after River Voi broke its banks on Monday, December 4, with its waters submerging the roads and homes, displacing more than 5,000 families in Msambweni, Kaloleni and parts of Tanzania.

“In all the counties that have been affected by floods, Tana River is the leading. Therefore, it is our responsibility as the government – both national and local – to work together and salvage the situation here in Tana River,” said Gachagua while distributing relief food to affected counties on Monday, December 4, 2023.

Gachagua noted that the government deployed all its apparatus to ensure that flood victims receive all the attention they require.

At least four people lost their lives, increasing the death toll to 154 after eight more people died in the last 48 hours.

Tana River among counties receiving relief food

The government disbursed over KSh 451 million to benefit over 119,000 affected persons in the counties of Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Wajir, Tana River and Garissa.

Gachagua noted that affected families in Garisaa will receive KSh 58 million from the allocation.

The second in command further noted that KSh 7 billion has been set aside to repair affected roads so that relief food can easily be distributed to affected areas.

He directed Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure that all roads in the affected counties have been repaired.

Ruto’s interventions in ongoing floods

In November 2023, President William Ruto’s administration deployed a multi-agency team to all flood-affected counties in the country.

“The National Disaster Operation Centre will coordinate the emergency response and the cabinet will meet on Monday to finalise a concrete intervention strategy,” said Ruto.

The Kenya Kwanza government allocated KSh 7 billion to address the effects of El Nino in the country.

President Ruto said the government will disperse KSh 20 billion more to counties to support mitigation measures and finance various programmes to address the plight of Kenyans affected by the heavy rains across the country.