By Sharon Mwaniki
President Ruto stated that 27,000 people have been relocated as they were living in riparian land. This is due to heavy floods witnessed in Kenya in April and early March.
The President further added that the government has spent more than Kshs. 300 million to provide an alternative shelter to those relocated from the riverbeds
Ruto remarked during the National prayer breakfast on Thursday,” We have had to relocate 27,000 people from Riparian reserves. We have spent close to Kshs. 300 million to make sure that people who have been relocated have alternative places to stay. We still have another 30,000 that we are processing so as to relocate them.”
The relocation exercise has seen houses in areas such as Mathare demolished, with residents being compelled to seek an alternative shelter.
The demolitions have caused resistance from sections of the public, with home owners claiming that bulldozers have caught them unawares in their houses, leading to injuries and deaths.
National Treasury estimates that Kenya will need Kshs. 2 billion to build and repair key infrastructure that were damaged from the heavy rains.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, appeared before the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee on May 28, said that a further Kshs.1.8billion will be allocated in the 2024-2025 budget for the restoration of school infrastructure.
The government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said that the floods had claimed 291 lives across the country.
Mwaura further detailed that 55,631 households had been displaced, affecting approximately 278,155 Kenyan citizens.