Gachagua on the Spot Over El Nino Funds
Gachagua on the Spot Over El Nino Funds
Gachagua on the Spot Over El Nino Funds
Governors are skeptical of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s assertions that Ksh10 billion was distributed to help mitigate the consequences of El Nino. Speaking on November 21, 2022, at the distribution of food to flood victims in Kisauni, Mombasa, Governor Abdullah Muhammad Nassir and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo denied receiving the funds.
The deputy president has been asked by both governors to provide an explanation of the money’s allocation and disbursement in the midst of the unstoppable devastation caused by the rain. Orengo said, “The truth is that not even in his home county of Nyeri has the federal government given the county government for El Nino a single cent.”
Nassir, for his part, urged the controller of the budget and the Parliament to look into Gachagua’s allegations. There are rumors circulating that the national government gave the counties 10 billion shillings as an El Niño response. For the avoidance of doubt, the Mombasa County Government has handled its catastrophe response using its own funding source despite the difficulties.
According to the governor of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), non-governmental organizations and the Kenya Red Cross also hurried to Mombasa’s rescue. Leaders of Wajir County begged the government to provide the funding as well, since the county is one of the most affected places by the continuous, intense rains.
Area Governor Ahmed Abdullahi issued a warning, stating that until the national government provides the cash designated in the supplemental budget, things could go out of control.The National Government has not yet provided any funding for mitigating measures, according to the Council of Governors, which is chaired by Anne Waiguru, the chief executive of Kirinyaga.
Waiguru asserted that counties owe Ksh62.58 billion in total from the equitable share that has not yet been distributed. The breakdown of the sum owed is as follows: for the month of September, 13 counties owe Kshs.10.17 billion; for the month of October, 27 counties owe Kshs.19.64 billion; and for the month of November, all counties owe Kshs.32.76 billion.
“As we draw to a close, we are concerned by statements made in public that purport County Governments have gotten funding from the federal government to help lessen the severe effects of El Nino Rains. We hold that statements of this like are contrary to the cooperative and collaborative spirit of governments as defined by Article 6(2) of the Constitution.
“In such times, we call upon the two levels of Government to come together in order to intensify response strategies to mitigate against the complex risks arising from the heavy rains and flooding in addition to the existing humanitarian challenges,” the chairman of the CoG said.
Meanwhile, governors should not hold the federal government responsible for their inability to lessen the consequences of El Nino, according to Gachagua, who highlighted aid food at Msambweni in Kilifi County. “We demand that Governor Nassir purchase food for flood victims. You have money too, being a governor. You have money in the bank, therefore even though people can’t die.”
“Development initiatives can be resumed after the El Nino situation is resolved. When people are dying, why would you spend money on development? Gachagua claimed, “Stop all of the development projects in Mombasa.” El-Nino rains should continue throughout next year, says David Gikungu, Director of Meteorological Services. Members of the National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining were informed by Gikungu on Tuesday that the weather forecast that was released earlier this year was not revoked.
“We are concerned that the president was misinformed earlier on regarding the El Nino rains that are currently occurring, as we are in fact experiencing an El Nino season.” We have not retracted the weather prediction that we initially provided. It is entirely accurate.”
