The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua today issued new stand on El Nino rains days after he and president William Ruto told the country that projection on ongoing deadly deluge will not be a reality against prediction by scientists.
Speaking while launching the mitigation measures, Rigathi urged Kenyans to brace for the heavy rains which will last up to the first quarter of 2024.
“El Nino it is. The matter is now settled.” Rigathi said.
He announced the various measures that they have put in place to protect Kenyans which include Kenya Defence Forces helicopters being used to ferry KCSE papers where the roads are impassible.
Gachagua also announced that the government has launched emergency response teams that will be responding to life-threatening incidents.
“Together with our development partners we are distributing foodstuff to families that are already affected.” He added.
Further the Kenya Metrological Department director David Gikungu for miscommunication about the El Nino Rains.
“We want to apologize for the lack of communication or miscommunication about the El Nino Rains because it was a very big mistake. I want to point out that we have El Nino Rains in this short rainy season.” Gikungu stated.
He called on Kenyans to prepare for the El Nino phenomenon.
“Let us prepare because of the Phenomenon of El Nino that we are experiencing.” He added.
This comes weeks after President William Ruto faulted scientists saying that there would be no El Nino and instead short rains.
“You recently heard that our country is going to have El Nino, but who is God, have you heard that those people say we will have it (El Nino) but there will just be heavy rainfall.” Ruto previously said.
The president’s announcements elicited reactions from Kenyans on Social media and offline as they had previously ridiculed the Met Department on the forecast of the looming El Nino
