Floods in Garissa county

The government plans to distribute Ksh 625M to 500,000 Kenyans affected by the ongoing floods in the country.

According to Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, the funds will be distributed under the hunger safety net cash transfer program in the eight most affected counties of Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Samburu, Tana River, Garissa and Isiolo.

Mwaura said the government has already distributed food to 11 counties including Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Busia, Kitui, Samburu and Isiolo.

“Food and non-food items are similarly being stockpiled in strategic locations in the 4 most affected counties namely Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera. However, rainfall in these counties is expected to decrease, in both intensity and coverage thus providing a conducive environment to facilitate the repair of infrastructure to aid the distribution of essential items,” said Mwaura.

The total number of households affected by floods so far stands at 93,432. The floods have led to an increase in disease outbreaks such as Cholera, Malaria and Diarrhoea with at least 391 cases of diarrhoea reported in Garissa, Kwale, Mandera and Wajir counties while 94 Cholera cases have been reported in Lamu.

Isaac Mwaura also announced that displacement camps have been set up across the North-Eastern and Coastal regions with the distribution currently at 11 camps in Mandera, 16 in Wajir, 19 in Garissa and 35 in Tana River.

“An additional 6 camps have also been established in Kilifi, Makueni and Taita Taveta counties bringing the number to 118 camps to cater for 3,334 households comprising of 16, 670 displaced persons,” Mwaura said.