This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
As the country grapples with the ongoing rains, the government has taken drastic measures to ensure the safety of its citizens. On May 6, 2020, security forces began relocating people from flood-prone areas to safer grounds, following warnings from the Meteorological Department.
According to Cabinet Secretaries, the situation is dire, with most people failing to heed government directives to move to safer areas. As a result, the government has been forced to take action, relocating people by force in areas such as Garissa and Tana River.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi stated, 'We have no option but to move them out by force.' He added that this process is already underway in affected areas.
Already, 194 people have lost their lives since the rains started, with 30 of them dying since Tuesday. Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter warned that dams across the country are at full capacity, an unprecedented level that poses a significant threat.
Information and Communications Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru announced that the Meteorological Department will issue regular weather alerts, effective Wednesday, and urged the media to disseminate the information. The government has also disbursed cash transfers to vulnerable families across the country and will include those displaced by floods in the program.
