Kenya’s President William Ruto has declared Friday a public holiday to mourn the 238 people who have died due to ongoing flooding. The president announced that the day will be observed through national tree planting activities to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The country, along with other parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by floods, displacing more than 235,000 people who are now living in dozens of camps.
In addition to declaring the public holiday, President Ruto also announced the reopening of schools nationwide, following a two-week delay due to heavy rains that damaged hundreds of schools. The government stated that over 1,000 schools were affected by the heavy rains and flooding and has allocated funds for repairs and renovations. The meteorology department has forecasted continued moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of the country.
As part of efforts to address the flooding crisis, the government is currently evacuating people living in flood-prone areas and near rivers and dams as water levels in major hydroelectric dams have reached historic highs. This week, houses in informal settlements in the capital Nairobi were bulldozed, and the president assured evicted families that they would receive $75 equivalent for relocation after a deadline to evacuate passed amid deadly rains.
The ongoing floods in Kenya have caused a significant loss of life and displacement of thousands of people. The government’s response to the crisis includes declaring a national day of mourning and tree planting activities to combat climate change effects, as well as reopening schools after delays due to heavy rains. Efforts are also underway to evacuate individuals from flood-prone areas and support those affected by the flooding through relocation assistance.
The government’s response to the flooding crisis in Kenya includes initiatives such as tree planting activities and school reopenings, as well as forceful evacuations of individuals living in flood-prone areas and near major water bodies. The meteorology department has continued to predict heavy rainfall, further exacerbating the situation. Additionally, the government has taken measures such as bulldozing houses in informal settlements to prevent further loss of life and provide relocation assistance to affected families.
President William Ruto’s declaration of a public holiday to mourn the victims of the flooding in Kenya reflects the severity of the situation, with hundreds of lives lost and thousands displaced. The government’s actions to address the crisis include providing assistance to those affected, evacuating individuals from high-risk areas, and taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change. The country’s ongoing challenges with flooding highlight the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable populations and build resilience to future natural disasters.
