Unified Response: National and County Leaders Join Forces to Aid Flood-Affected Wajir

Township- Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed and the Secretary to the Cabinet, Ms. Mercy Wanjau, spearheaded a joint effort of national and county leaders to bring relief to over 11,000 households grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods in Wajir County.

The program, aimed at addressing the pressing needs of the affected families, included the assessment of flood impacts by Ms. Mercy Wanjau and Permanent Secretary Idris Dolota. This collaborative effort underscored the commitment of both the County and National Government to intervene and support communities facing adversity.

The last-mile distribution, flagged off as a result of these efforts, encompassed a range of essential items, both food and non-food, crucial for the well-being of the flood-affected households.

Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed emphasized the necessity of such collaborative endeavors.

“Collaborative efforts between the County and National Government are needful to intervene in mitigating disasters and equally put in place the enabling environment to eschew the recurrent effects of such adversity.”

Highlighting key areas for investment, Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed alias Aato urged the National Government to prioritize the fast-tracking of trunk roads’ construction, connecting the region to the national grid, and operationalizing border customs to spur the economy of the frontier counties.

Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed chairs a meeting with leaders for the last-mile distribution of food and non-food items in Wajir County. Photo/ Courtesy

During the distribution event, a delegation led by Secretary to the Cabinet, Ms. Mercy Wanjau, included PS Iddris Dokota of Cabinet Affairs and the National Government Spokesperson, Dr. Issack Mwaura, along with County Commissioner Mr. Karugu Ngumo. The high level delegation came together to provide not just immediate relief but also a symbol of solidarity and support for the affected households in Wajir.

Last week, the National Disaster and Management Response Command Center recorded six new fatalities, bringing the death toll from the floods to 174. Despite the stabilization of the overall flood situation, the Command Center issued a stern warning against mining activities during the rainy season, emphasizing the importance of adhering to alerts and guidelines to prevent additional fatalities and injuries.

To address the growing displacement crisis, additional camps have been set up across the country, increasing the total number of camps to 170. These camps are now home to 109,179 households, totaling approximately 545,895 people who have been displaced due to the floods.

In a supportive gesture, the United States has contributed Sh150 million ($1 million) to Kenya for flood response and mitigation efforts. Out of this grant, the US government has allocated Sh38 million ($250,000) directly to the Kenya Red Cross. Moreover, the Kenya Red Cross has received supplementary food and non-food items from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).