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"id": 232769,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Wario",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Office of the President",
"speaker": {
"id": 252,
"legal_name": "Ali Wario",
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"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, following concerns raised by hon. Dr. Ali, MP for Wajir North, this House requested the Ministry of State for Special Programmes to issue a Ministerial Statement on the current floods in the country. In this regard, I wish to state as follows. The short rains which have been received in this country have been heavier than normal. As a result, they have caused floods in some parts of this country. The Ministry of State for Special Programmes has been informed by the meteorologists that the country is experiencing a mild El Nino which is being caused by the rising temperatures, by 1.5 degrees centigrade, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This condition is expected to prevail until mid-January, 2007. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a result, the mild El Nino phenomenon has caused serious floods that have been experienced in Coast and North Eastern provinces. Other areas that are also experiencing floods are Budalangi, Siaya, Kisumu, Nyando and Bondo. Nairobi and Turkana districts also face the risk of floods as the rains continue. So far, over 500,000 people have been affected by floods across the country, and the figure could rise due to the current heavy rains which continue to pound the western part of the country. The heavy rains were earlier experienced in Moyale, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir and Ijara districts. Parts of Mandera and Thika were also affected. The rains in Moyale and other named districts destroyed roads and bridges, swept away some livestock and left some families homeless. The recent floods which started in Mombasa spread to Kwale and Kilifi districts with the former being the worst hit. This is according to the evidence that was gathered from the air and the ground. About 50,000 people were affected in Kwale District alone. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, contrary to the fact that Government officials were moving around in helicopters to show the public that they were around, the truth of the matter is that the flooded areas could not be accessed by road, hence air surveys had to be carried out to determine 3964 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 28, 2006 the extent of the problem thus addressing it from a point of knowledge. The Government has mobilised its resources to appropriately respond to this situation. In this regard, the Government released helicopters to ferry food, drugs and other essential necessities to those who had been affected by the floods in the worst hit Kwale District. Several flights were made during which food and medical supplies were taken to those who had been cut off. The Government is effectively handling the flood situation to ensure that loss of life, property and destruction of infrastructure is minimised. The Government has teamed up with United Nations (UN) agencies in the country and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to provide relief and other necessary assistance to those affected areas. Indeed, our capacity has been increased to address this situation. Despite these efforts, it is sad that some lives have been lost as a result of the raging floods which have also washed away bridges, drifts and sections of the road network in Coast and North Eastern Provinces. So far, the Government has dispatched assistance valued at Kshs211,152,385 the details of which I shall lay before the House. The additional food provided was to supplement the normal emergency operation. The food is distributed to the affected populations in those areas. The Government had allocated the Ministry of State for Special Programmes Kshs1 billion towards famine and refugees related activities for the current financial year. These funds have been found inadequate to also fund flood related activities. Further funding has, therefore, been sought from Treasury for this purpose. The Government has also embarked on the repair of the affected roads. To this end, the Ministry of Roads and Public Works released Kshs1.8 billion to meet repair costs in various parts affected by the floods. On its part, the Ministry of Health is also on the look out for any disease outbreak and is already taking medical supplies to the flooded districts to take care of any eventuality. In conclusion, the Government is taking relevant action to ensure that the flood situation is addressed with the speed that it requires and that all those who are affected are provided with the necessary facilities, including food and medical supplies to alleviate their sufferings."
}