Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday contradicted himself on the national government's official position regarding the disbursement of funds to the counties to help prepare and manage the effects of El Nino rains.
The country's second-in-command on Tuesday, while addressing a roadside rally in Kilifi County, claimed that the national government had released Ksh10 Billion to all the 47 counties for this purpose.
However, a section of Governors refuted this position forcing Gachagua to backtrack on his comments. The Council of Governors (CoG) later backed its members, with Chairperson Anne Waiguru revealing that the national government actually owes Ksh62.58 billion in unreleased equitable share.
Speaking during a development forum at his Karen residence in Nairobi, Gachagua conceded that the national government was yet to disburse the funds as he had initially claimed.
The Deputy President instead, told off the Governors asking them to allocate part of their emergency funds to help manage the floods that have caused displacement of people, disrupted transport, and made access to food and healthcare difficult.
“We are shocked to see governors complaining that they are yet to receive money for El Nino from the national government, such money is not coming,” Gachagua noted.
Even so, the Deputy President lauded a section of Governors including, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Kwale, and Busia County Governors for allocating money to help deal with the effects of El Nino.
"I want to urge and request other counties to do the same within what they have from the shareable revenue, and whatever else they are able to reallocate to assist victims of floods," Gachagua said.
Gachagua said the government had only used Ksh2.4 billion to respond to heavy rains. Even so, he affirmed that the national government was planning to release more money to manage the situation in the near future.
While claiming that the national government had released Ksh10 billion, Gachagua also bashed Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir for failing to adequately help flood victims within his County.
"We want Governor Nassir to buy food for those affected by floods. As a Governor, you also have money. People can't die yet you have kept money in the bank," Gachagua said.
"When we are through with the El Nino challenge, we can resume development projects. Why would you invest in development when people are dying? Stop all the development projects in Mombasa."
