Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, has called upon President William Ruto to declare the ongoing heavy floods a national disaster, citing increasing cases of displacement and deaths across the country.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday evening, the opposition chief urged the President to deploy military response units as part of an emergency protocol to address the flood damage.
He also advocated for the establishment of an emergency fund to aid flood victims, noting that opposition-affiliated Members of Parliament had collectively raised Ksh.1 million for donation to the Kenya Red Cross.
“It is our urgent plea that the President and government officially declare the floods a national disaster and promptly activate all emergency mechanisms, including military disaster response teams,” stated Odinga.
He further announced the launch of an emergency disaster support fund by the Red Cross to assist affected families, with the initial donation of Ksh.1 million from Azimio MPs.
Odinga additionally called upon the Nairobi County government, under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s leadership, to enhance rescue efforts in flood-affected areas and provide support to victims.
He urged the government to implement sustainable measures to address the recurring flood menace, emphasizing the need for proactive measures rather than reactive responses.
“As we receive reports of ongoing flooding and limited access to certain areas in Nairobi, we appeal to the government and disaster response agencies to conduct comprehensive search and rescue operations and provide essential supplies to affected residents,” Odinga emphasized.
He warned of worsening conditions with forecasts indicating continued rainfall, underscoring the importance of preparedness to avert a larger crisis.
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