Parliament Grants Blank Cheque to Combat Floods

Parliament Grants Blank Cheque to Combat Floods

Parliament Grants Blank Cheque to Combat Floods

With thousands of people being forced to flee their homes due to deadly floods, Parliament has taken an unprecedented action by giving the government blank cheque to handle the situation. This action is being taken as the administration of President William Ruto is seeking Ksh10.6 billion to combat the unrelenting flood that is causing devastation all over the country.

In a meeting on Monday, May 6, the Parliamentary Committee on Budget gave the government unrestricted spending authority, indicating a determined attempt to address the catastrophic effects of the continuous rains.

Residents affected by the floods were given the assurance that parliamentary approval would not impede the government’s efforts by Budget Committee Chairperson Ndindi Nyoro. Nyoro declared emphatically, “Let us use the money to take care of Kenyans,” putting quick action ahead of cumbersome red tape.

“When issues of how much you have spent come to parliament, I want to assure all the government institutions we are going to approve all expenditures,” he stated.

The Ministry of Interior has reported over 238 fatalities, highlighting the dire nature of the situation.

In addition, 174 people have been injured by the floods, and 75 people are still unaccounted for. There has been a significant loss of livelihood, with about 235,000 people being displaced from 47,000 households.

Infrastructure damage is widespread, with roads, schools, and homes bearing the brunt of nature’s fury. The extent of destruction extends to crops and livestock, with over 4,003 animals lost and 7,533 acres of farmland ruined.

In the Supplementary Budget tabled in Parliament last week, the National Treasury requested for an additional Ksh6.3 billion in resources, with total expenditure on flood mitigation set to reach nearly Ksh20 billion.

As per the latest supplementary budget estimates, the projected spending to combat the impact of flooding is set to soar to Ksh19.9 billion for the current fiscal year, culminating on June 30.

This estimate includes the Ksh13.6 billion already greenlit for expenditure by the exchequer under the auspices of Article 223 spending, which allows the Treasury autonomy in fund disbursement without requiring parliamentary approval.

The National Treasury has already set aside Ksh8.8 billion for different flood mitigation initiatives under this clause. With a substantial payout of Ksh4.3 billion, the State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands has emerged as the primary beneficiary. These funds are designated for use in humanitarian emergency response programs that assist those affected by drought and flooding.

The State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands is expected to secure an additional Ksh4.6 billion to strengthen its flood mitigation strategies, out of the Ksh6.3 billion that the exchequer is requesting. Meanwhile, a sizeable chunk totaling Ksh1.1 billion is scheduled to be distributed to the State Department of Cooperatives, with the primary objective being the management of the excess milk production that arises from increased rainfall.

Notably, the Cooperatives State Department had previously received Ksh500 million for this purpose under pre-approved expenditures.

In a concerted effort to tackle the crisis, various ministries and State departments have received allocations from the exchequer. The Ministry of Defence, for instance, has tapped into a fund of Sh500 million, while the State Department of Roads has been allocated a staggering Ksh1 billion.

Additionally, the State Department of Public Works has been allocated Ksh30 million to aid in flood mitigation efforts.

The government’s multifaceted approach to resolving the crisis has been further strengthened by the allocation of Ksh70 million, Ksh35 million, and Ksh65 million to the State departments of crop development, livestock, and irrigation, respectively.

President Ruto promised over 40,000 households in Nairobi that had their houses demolished because they were on riparian land Ksh10,000 apiece.