Two citizens have petitioned Parliament seeking to have it compel President William Ruto’s administration to address the flood situation in the country and declare it a national disaster.
Anthony Machui Manyara and John Wangai stated that the government should declare the floods a disaster and put in place measures to address the calamity.
They state that the country is in the grips of a devastating flood crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 200 people.
Manyara and Wangai contend that the widespread flooding triggered by heavy rains has also caused immense destruction and displacement across the country.
“We pray the honourable National Assembly to compel National government to expeditiously declare floods a national disaster, invoking the necessary legal mechanisms for effective management and coordination,” the petition which was received by the clerk of Parliament states.
The duo also seeks MPs to enact legislation and allocate resources for the implementation of comprehensive flood risk reduction and management strategies.
“We call upon the National Assembly to compel the relevant government agencies to collaborate with stakeholders, including affected communities, civil society, and the private sector, in developing and implementing sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of floods,” they seek.
The petitioners have approached Parliament to intervene on grounds that the recent data released by the government floods have affected many counties, displacing a huge number of individuals and causing extensive damage to property and agriculture.
“The climate change exacerbates the frequency and intensity of floods, posing a significant threat to Kenya’s sustainable development and socio-economic stability, ” they add.
According to the duo, the declaration of floods as a national disaster is imperative to mobilize resources and coordinate efforts for effective response and recovery.
They also contend that urgent mitigation measures are necessary to address the underlying causes of floods, including deforestation, poor land use planning and inadequate drainage systems.
“Proactive measures are crucial to building resilient and reducing vulnerability to future flood events, in line with Kenya’s national development goals and international commitments,” the petition reads.
Additionally, Manyara and Wangai state that Kenya has experienced recurrent and severe flooding in recent years, causing loss of lives, displacement of population, destruction of infrastructure and disruption of livelihoods.
