‘Suspend non-priority spending and address doctors’ strike, floods’ – Karua tells Ruto
NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has called on President William Ruto to suspend non-priority spending and address pressing issues such as the doctors' strike and the flood crisis.
In a statement, Karua urged the government to stop unnecessary expenditures such as the travelling of government officials and huge hospitality expenditures by the executive.
"We take note that the administration has asked for an assessment of all dams countrywide to assess their condition following the breach of Kijabe dam last evening and its devastating effect, which includes the loss of over one hundred lives, soaring the numbers of the lives lost in the floods to close to two hundred," Karua stated.
"Rains are a natural phenomenon which as earthly mortals, we cannot claim control. However, it is the duty of the administration both at the County and National levels to prepare and protect the people at risk and to put in place mitigation measures in anticipation of adverse rainfall effects. The perennial floods in Nairobi and especially in the informal settlements along the rivers ought to have woken both the Nairobi County Administration and the National Authorities from slumber."
According to Karua, the floods in most areas are attributed not just to the torrential rains pounding the city but also to the breach of dams such as the Maingi Dam in Kihara ward of Kiambaa constituency.
"The Kijabe dam tragedy in Mai Mahiu would have been avoided had the National and County Governments taken action sooner – especially given the floods have been devastating communities for well over a week. We hope the directive to assess the security of all dams countrywide will be acted on with the urgency it deserves to avert further loss of lives, property and displacement. It is the duty of this regime to respond swiftly to evacuate and provide adequate shelter and amenities to those affected," she stated.
She added, "We remind the Ruto regime as well as County Governments in affected areas it is their duty to respond swiftly to evacuate and provide adequate shelter and amenities to affected Kenyans. We demand that the administration suspend non-priority spending such as excessive travel by the executive and huge hospitality budgets to name but a few be dispensed with and in their place urgent needs such as the doctors' CBS be implemented and the flood victims."
Karua's demands
Karua has asked the government to re-evaluate the postponement period of public school opening to ensure the safety of the students at those facilities and allow for the safe relocation of families using schools as shelters.
On Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the postponement of school reopening for one week following the flood crisis in the country.
Karua has also asked for emergency funding allocation to all the families affected by floods and further support to help their resettlement once the rains subside.
She has also asked for a mandatory waiver of document replacement, such as national IDs, for those who have lost their documents in the floods.
Karua also wants the government to waive school fees and support school supplies for children affected by the floods.
"We demand a comprehensive assessment of the entire drainage basins (that is from the source to the ocean) to enable long-term planning of interventions to mitigate flooding in areas around human settlements," she added.
"I call upon citizens of goodwill who have the means and opportunity to join community organizations that have undertaken commendable efforts to offer relief to those affected by the floods. It gives me hope that Kenyans, despite the dire circumstances we face, are able to come together and do incredible things."
