The government has today, in what seems to be a paradoxical move, declared Friday, May 10, 2024 a national holiday in honour of hundreds of people killed by deadly deluge that pounced the country in the last few weeks in what could have been avoidable deaths if the prior forecast by the weatherman was actioned and contingency mitigation measures initiated beforehand.
Instead, interventions by government agencies seemed knee-jerk, inadequate and initiated too late after tens were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Properties worth millions have so far been destroyed.
Today, the government revised the total death toll to 257 up from the previously reported 238 amid fears others could still be unaccounted for.
Further, 54,837 households have been displaced and an additional 293,661 have been affected and are living in internally displaced camps.
Today, while addressing grassroots leaders from Kajiado Central and Laikipia North constituencies, president William Ruto declared May 10, 2024 a national holiday to remember those who have been affected by the floods.
Moreover, the president said all citizens should embark on a national tree planting initiative to reverse the challenges of climate change.
“On this day, we will plant trees and remind ourselves that the solution to climate change is taking care of our environment.” He said.
The president announced that the plan is to plant 200 million trees on the day and urged each Kenyan to plant at least 50 trees.
On destruction of infrastructure by flooding, president Ruto stated that the government will work with development partners to repair damaged roads.
