Treasury releases Sh9.5 bi*lion to mitigate effects of rains

The National Treasury has released Sh9.5 billion to mitigate effects of the ongoing rains though the Supplementary Budget.

The money which has already been disbursed will cover floods interventions and security operations in the affected areas.

Allocations of money to mitigate effects of the rains was a matter of great debate after counties disputed having received Sh 10 billion last year to address similar effects of El Nino.

Out of this amount, Sh 4.3 billion has been allocated to the State department of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and regional Development to address humanitarian emergency response interventions for people affected by floods and drought.

Another Sh2.3 billion to the Internal Security and National Administration to address the emergency response interventions on account of El Nino. A similar amount has been allocated to the same ministry address security operations as a result of the ongoing rains.

The Ministry of Defence which has been playing a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of the floods has been allocated Sh500 million.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport has been allocated Sh1 billion for the repairs of the roads and other infrastructure.

The money has been withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund, but according to the Constitution, the approval of Parliament for any spending under Article 223 shall be sought within two months after the first withdrawal of the money. Another Sh500 million has been disbursed to the ministry of Cooperative Development to mop excess milk from farmers. Last year the government disbursed Sh10 billion to counties to mitigate effects of the El Nino rains.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (pictured) said then the state had released the funds to county governments to support flood victims.

However, governors led by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir of Mombasa and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo dismissed Gachagua’s claim the government had released the said funds.