Cabinet Orders Immediate Evacuation of Kenyans Living In Risk Prone Areas

By Lauryne Akoth

This morning, President Ruto convened a Special Cabinet meeting to discuss further measures needed to alleviate the impacts of the current heavy rains on the lives, property, and livelihoods of the Kenyan people.

Following the meeting, the cabinet resolved to order the immediate evacuation of all members of the public residing within risky areas within 48 hours.

These include areas near dams and other water reservoirs in public or private land, areas prone to mudslides and landslides, and riparian lands along rivers and other water courses across the country.

All affected members of the public will receive notification by the end of the day tomorrow, 1st May 2024, regarding this directive.

The Cabinet further received and reviewed a weather forecast report from the Meteorological Department, indicating that the current rains will continue in both intensity and duration. The report warns of potential dire circumstances as the soil across the country is already fully saturated.

Additionally, the Cabinet acknowledged that relevant Government agencies have completed the mapping of all fragile ecosystems nationwide, which pose significant risks to public safety and health in the event of further precipitation.

The Government has implemented measures to support the evacuation and provision of temporary shelter for those impacted by this directive, should they require assistance.

Moreover, the Government has identified public spaces in various parts of the country where those affected will be given temporary shelter together with the provision of essential food and non-food supplies.

While the Government encourages voluntary evacuation, all those who remain within the areas affected by the directive will be relocated forcefully in the interest of their safety.

The National Government Administration officers (NGAO) have been directed to work with county governments, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the process of notification, evacuation, and shelter provision is carried out in a timely, humane, and effective manner.

The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) will provide the coordination of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless and coherent exercise throughout the country.

Security agencies will enforce this directive with the support of the National Youth Service,(NYS).

The office of the Deputy President will immediately convene a meeting bringing Government (MDAs) and development partners to harmonize resource mobilization and coordinated disaster response to mitigate further loss of lives, and destruction of property and livelihoods.

The resultant effects downstream, especially in Garissa and Tana River counties, could worsen the already dire situation.

Currently, large parcels of land have been submerged along the Tana River, leaving thousands of people displaced, and lives and livelihoods affected. The residents of the two counties and others living near other dams and water reservoirs need to evacuate as per the cabinet’s directives.

The cabinet additionally gave a 48-hour ultimatum for the evacuation of people living within the 30-meter riparian corridor in Nairobi, particularly individuals living in the informal settlements along the Nairobi River.

The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development has also been tasked with fast-tracking the rollout of social housing to accommodate several people living in informal settlements and give priority to those who will be vacating the riparian area.

The ministry and county governments are expected to enumerate and document everyone vacating the riparian areas.