Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku /HANDOUT
Kenya has put several parts of the country on alert ahead of forecasts of heavy rains linked to a possible El Nino weather event from October.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said on Friday that the government had put plans in place to prepare areas expected to be more vulnerable to the effects of the rains.
Ruku said the government was ready to respond quickly to emergencies and prevent loss of life in affected areas.
“We are prepared, and we have put all the necessary plans in place,” he said.
He said the government had stationed resources in areas considered more vulnerable to the expected rains.
“We have stationed different resources in Mandela, in Wanjia, in Tanariva, in Massapit, where those areas are more vulnerable than many other areas,” Ruku said.
He also warned of the possibility of landslides in some parts of the country.
“There may be likelihood of landslides in Marrakech, in Muranga, and other corners of the country,” he said.
Ruku said the government was working with various agencies to prepare for possible emergencies arising from the weather event.
“We are working with most agency teams so that we manage any eventuality which may occur because of El Nino,” he said.
He said the government was also coordinating with non-state actors, including the Red Cross, as part of the preparations.
“I want to assure all Kenyans who are here that your government is ready and we are working in a coordinated manner with different agencies, government agencies, as well as other non-state actors like Red Cross,” Ruku said.
Ruku acknowledged that weather forecasts do not always result in the predicted conditions but said the government would remain on standby.
“Because sometimes we are told this is going to happen and it doesn't happen, isn't it? So here we are on standby,” he said.
He said Kenya had personnel within government agencies who were trained to respond to emergencies.
“We have enough personnel within different government agencies, with our Kenyan police, the military of Kenya, our Kenyan defence forces, and other security teams,” Ruku said.
Ruku said the government hoped the situation would not escalate to a level requiring external assistance.
'We are on standby...we hope it will not reach to a point where we start asking for help from Israel, because they are good at managing crisis, emergencies. But also we have a very good training program between the Government of Kenya and the Government of Israel as far as emergency situations and preparedness is concerned."
"We have enough personnel within different government agencies with our Kenyan police, the military of Kenya, our Kenyan defence forces, and other security teams. We are ready and prepared. I can assure you we will not go to that level," he said.
