Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku has urged the government to prioritize poverty, climate change, and environmental issues in national budgeting and development plans.
Speaking to a local media house on Thursday, April 25, Ruku noted the importance of integrating these pressing concerns into the national agenda.
He stressed that as the challenges posed by poverty, climate change, and environmental degradation continue to escalate, the government must take them seriously and address them comprehensively.
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"It's time we start mainstreaming poverty, climate change, and environmental issues into national planning and development. It needs to be seriously mainstreamed by the national treasury and across all levels of government. The issues are becoming bigger day by day," Ruku stated.
The lawmaker used the heavy rains in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an example noting the urgency of mitigating the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
"We have seen what has happened in the UAE. A country that has never experienced such rains. We need to take these issues seriously and see how poverty levels are linked to environmental issues and climate change. Ensure that these links are properly mainstreamed in our national budgeting, national planning, and development," he urged.
Geoffrey Ruku – MP, Mbeere North: Poverty, climate change, and environmental issues must be taken seriously and included in the national budget and development. President Ruto needs a team within the government to champion a paradigm shift #DayBreak @TrevorOmbija pic.twitter.com/ZLSxjuNmIx— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 25, 2024
Floods
Ruku's call for action comes amidst widespread floods caused by heavy rains across various parts of the country.
Floods, landslides, and other weather-related disasters have resulted in loss of lives, displacement of communities, and extensive damage to infrastructure.
Nairobi Country has been on the receiving end of the adverse weather conditions with thousands displaced, lives lost and businesses disrupted.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 24, the Kenya Red Cross (KRC) highlighted the areas severely affected by the adverse weather conditions.
According to the KRC, numerous parts of Nairobi bore the brunt of the intense rainfall overnight, leading to flash floods in various neighbourhoods.
"Many parts of Nairobi have experienced heavy rainfall overnight, resulting in flash floods in areas such as Mukuru, Mathare, Huruma, Ruaraka, Baba Dogo, Bosnia, Umoja 3, Choka, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Githurai, Kahawa, Eastern Bypass, Kinoo, Kijabe, Limuru, Ruiru, Graceland, Joska, Kaswito, Kicheko, Mangili, Kenyatta Road, Juja, Kitengela, and Magadi," the statement from the KRC revealed.
Many parts of Nairobi have experienced heavy rainfall overnight, resulting in flash floods in areas such as Mukuru, Mathare, Huruma, Ruaraka, Baba Dogo, Bosnia, Umoja 3, Choka, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Githurai, Kahawa, Eastern Bypass, Kinoo, Kijabe, Limuru, Ruiru, Graceland, Joska,… pic.twitter.com/SwCcsRUs5d— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 24, 2024
The situation has been exacerbated by the overflowing of the Athi River, which has burst its banks, intensifying the impact of the floods.
Roads and bridges have been severely affected, leading to heavy traffic congestion on major routes across the county.
"Our response teams are on the ground in most of these areas, evacuating families to safety and providing other life-saving interventions," the KRC statement further assured.
Sakaja to Nairobi residents
On April 21, in a press statement, Governor Johnson Sakaja reassured the city residents that proactive measures were underway to address the ongoing flood situation.
Sakaja revealed that an estimated 60,000 people mostly women and children in Nairobi have been severely affected by flash floods.
Four lives were lost and six were reported in the floods which have hit the city this week.
Among the most affected areas include Kibra, Lindi, Mathare 4A and Mathare North, Baba Dogo, Githurai and Zimmerman.
Several bridges in the city have been affected including Mathare North, John Saga, Huruma, Gateway Bridge, Ngumba Bridge, 4B near Utalii Hotel, Ngomongo, Githathuru footbridge near the police depot and Sara Ngombe footbridge.
"The bursting of the Ngong River banks has affected many areas across the city especially downstream including the flooding of Mbagathi Roundabout, flooding in Ectoville Industrial Estate in Mukuru kwa Rueben Ward, flooding in Mwiki Ward along Eastern bypass," Sakaja stated on Wednesday.
The bursting of Mau Mau River banks also affected churches and residential houses in Westlands Sub County.
In Kiambiu informal settlement, at least 10 households have been affected. Also a bridge in Nairobi’s Mukuru-Kayaba Slum in South B was swept away.
Several roads were affected by the flash floods including Raila Odinga Road, Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road, Ole Odume and Langata Road junction (near T-Mall), Langata South Road, Eastern bypass, Kenyatta Avenue, Ojijo Road and Uhuru Highway.
