The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition strongly criticized President William Ruto following his pledge to provide Ksh 10,000 to flood victims for securing alternative accommodations.
During a visit to Mathare flood victims on Monday, Ruto assured each of the 40,000 affected families of Ksh.10,000 support, emphasizing the urgency of finding temporary housing solutions. Additionally, he announced plans for the government to construct new residences in the worst-hit areas of the capital.
However, the opposition alliance swiftly condemned Ruto’s commitment as “insufficient and belated,” labeling it as another failure of the incumbent Kenya Kwanza administration. This criticism was voiced during a press briefing held in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, a co-principal of the Azimio coalition, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed aid, arguing that it falls short of addressing the immense loss suffered by affected families. Musyoka urged the government to revise the support to a minimum of Ksh.100,000 per family and promptly launch an emergency relief effort for all flood victims across the nation.
Moreover, Musyoka criticized the government’s approach to evacuating residents from flood-prone areas, warning that such actions risk exacerbating the plight of Kenyan citizens.
Insisting on a more humane and rights-respecting approach to evacuations, Musyoka emphasized the need to prevent further loss of life and hardship among the affected populace.
Official government statistics released on Tuesday revealed the grim toll of the ongoing crisis, with at least 238 reported fatalities and 75 individuals still missing due to torrential rains and ensuing floods since March. The calamity has affected a staggering 47,000 families nationwide, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and effective disaster response measures.
