President Ruto Declares May 10 Public Holiday to Honor Lives Affected by Floods
President William Ruto has announced that Friday, March 10, will be a public holiday.
In a meeting in Kajiado on Wednesday, Ruto designated the day to honor the lives affected by the recent floods.
Official data reveals that 238 individuals lost their lives due to the widespread flooding that began in March.
“Friday, May 10, 2024, is a day to remember those severely impacted by climate change. Let’s use the day to improve our environment,” said a source at State House, attributing the statement to the President.
The President also mentioned the day would focus on planting trees to combat climate change.
The latest government update from Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura shows that 75 people remain missing.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mwaura reported that 174 people are in critical condition and 47,000 families were displaced.
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According to the data, Nairobi is the most affected area with 164,000 individuals impacted, followed by Nyanza with 40,000, and the Eastern region with 5,957.
“The government is utilizing various methods to manage the disaster and ongoing evacuations. The KDF and NYS are assisting in search and rescue operations while the NGAO are helping residents move to safer areas,” Mwaura said.
“We have around 30 designated evacuation centers, including churches and schools on high ground. Don’t wait until the water rises; take action sooner. Disaster management is a shared responsibility.”
To minimize flood casualties, the President urged residents in fragile areas to relocate to safer locations.
He also pledged to compensate over 40,000 displaced households with Ksh10,000 each for temporary shelter and announced the construction of 20,000 affordable homes.
Additionally, the President declared that schools will reopen on Monday, May 13, which is two weeks later than initially scheduled. The delay allows the government time to evaluate the impact of the floods on schools and families.
President Ruto Declares May 10 Public Holiday to Honor Lives Affected by Floods