NOS News•today, 5:41 PM
Due to the persistent flooding, the death toll in Kenya has risen to at least 200 people. The country has been experiencing heavy rains and flooding since March. Dozens of people have been injured or are missing, tens of thousands have lost their homes.
There are also fears about the coming cyclone Hidaya. It is expected to bring more rain, high waves and strong winds to the coastal areas of the East African country.
As a precautionary measure, President Ruto has decided to have people around 178 other dams and water reservoirs evacuated by the army. Schools were also supposed to open again this week, but that has been postponed until next week.
Millions freed
According to human rights organization Human Rights Watch, the government was not well prepared for the floods. In May last year, the Kenyan meteorological service warned of the heavy rainfall that would hit the country as a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The government subsequently released millions for a plan against the extreme weather, but according to the organization it is unclear what happened to the money and the authorities were slow to take measures.
Dozens of people died last year due to the floods. Only after April 24 did Ruto put together a team to determine what measures should be taken.
The authorities are failing in this regard, says Human Rights Watch. “The Kenyan government has a responsibility to ensure that all possible measures are taken to prevent human suffering as a result of the floods.”
Unprepared
Opposition leader Odinga also believes that Kenya was unprepared for the floods and that the government responded too slowly. “Despite the warning, no emergency plans had been prepared. That is why we now have to plan, search for missing people and rescue people at the same time.”
