Kenyan President William Ruto has announced emergency financial aid for households impacted by flooding in Nairobi.
During his visit to affected areas in the capital’s densely populated informal settlements, Ruto assured each affected family of 10,000 Kenyan Shillings (approximately 75 USD) and committed to reconstructing all schools damaged by the floods.
He stated that the government has allocated 1 billion Kenyan Shillings (around 7.5 million USD) for the school reconstruction before their scheduled reopening. Ruto postponed the reopening of schools due to ongoing heavy rains and floods, which have claimed over 200 lives.
Furthermore, Ruto outlined plans for his flagship ‘Affordable Housing’ project, aiming to address future flooding-related displacements.
He pledged to construct 20,000 houses for residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements to provide dignified housing and protect riparian lands to prevent future crises.
In his recent state of the nation address, Ruto emphasized the severity of the meteorological situation, with no immediate relief from rain and floods predicted. Across Kenya and East Africa, flooding has displaced over 150,000 people, prompting evacuations near full dams and reservoirs.
The government has warned downstream communities along the Tana River, where water levels have reached historic highs.
The flooding has also affected neighboring countries, with over 155 casualties reported in Tanzania and significant impacts in Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
The government has faced criticism for its perceived inadequate response to the floods, which have caused fatalities and widespread displacement.
