The government has today, Tuesday, November 5, inked a deal worth USD 15 million (about Ksh1.9 billion at current exchange rates) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide relief to victims of the heavy flooding that occurred earlier this year.
The announcement made by government spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura in an event graced by officials from the UAE led by Ambassador Dr. Salim Ibrahim Alnaqbi, Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Idris, and leaders from the various county governments that are set to benefit from the funding.
“I am very delighted to announce this new PPP between Kenya and the UAE to provide relief to victims of the floods that were witnessed earlier this year. This new partnership which is set to be at a tune of 15 million dollars which is roughly two billion Kenyan shillings will be under the management of the Kenya Red Cross. The Red Cross will work hand in hand with the Kenyan government to ensure that 50,000 families affected by the floods will get the required relief, ” Mwaura stated.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is set to benefit 50,000 families in Kisumu, Garissa, Tana River, and Busia counties who were affected by the March-April-May floods that ravaged the country. “The generous donation offers targeted assistance to 50,000 households in Kisumu, Garissa, Tana River, and Busia counties, areas that bore the brunt of the emergency flooding period from March to May this year, ” emphasized Mwaura.
Speaking during the event, Mwaura welcomed the new development and noted that the funding is set to be managed by the Red Cross in close partnership with the government.
The funding is also set to help Kenya in its disaster preparedness as it braces for another rainy season. “This new collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to swift recovery and enhanced resilience as the nation prepares for potential weather impacts in the October-December period,” noted Mwaura.
Mwaura noted that the partnership was born out of the Red Cross' initiative which approached the UAE at the height of the flood disaster. He mentioned that it was the reason why the Red Cross would be the custodian of the funds.
“The Red Cross approached the UAE on behalf of us (the government) during the floods and we were fortunate that the UAE heeded their call. As a result of this 50,000 families are going to benefit,” he mentioned.
The government spokesperson lauded the move by the UAE and noted that the new development would only serve to improve bilateral relations between Kenya and the Middle Eastern country.
“This new partnership strengthens our relationship as a government with the UAE. The mutual relationship between our two countries is clear to see. When you give us such a nice deal we also try to reciprocate. Kenyans like to go to the UAE to conduct business and to work there,” he reasserted.
Mwaura also took the opportunity to drum up support for Public-Private partnerships in the country citing that PPPs are an alternative model of financing that assists when there is a shortage of government funding.
“This new deal is a very good example of Public-Private Partnership (PPP). We have the Embassy, the foundations that are chipping in, the Red Cross which is an international humanitarian body and the government-to-government relations that are all contributing to the success of this deal,” Mwaura stated.
