The Elgeyo Marakwet El-Niño Inter Agency Committee has urged the county assembly to establish an emergency fund to better respond to disasters in the region. Paul Suter, the chairperson of the disaster preparedness committee, raised concerns about the lack of such a fund, despite the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act stipulating that each county should allocate 2% of its development budget for emergencies.
According to Kenya News Agency, Suter informed the committee, led by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands Thomas Maiyo, that the assembly was prepared to set up the emergency fund once a formal proposal is submitted by the executive. He highlighted the county’s urgent need for this fund, especially given the absence of any emergency budget for the past three years.
Abraham Cheruiyot, the Kenya Red Cross county coordinator, reported to the committee that the county had experienced 15 landslide incidents, affecting 167 households. The floods resulted in four deaths and the loss of 43 animals, with Keiyo South sub-county being the most affected area. Cheruiyot pointed out the major challenge of limited resources, which hampered the ability of organizations to provide adequate assistance and affected the distribution of aid due to adverse weather conditions.
CECM for Roads Emmy Kosgei emphasized the need for funds to repair roads and bridges damaged by the rains. Meanwhile, the county’s director of meteorology, Simon Cheptot, indicated that while the rains are expected to subside, ongoing vigilance is necessary. Cheptot warned that the ground remains saturated, raising the risk of further landslides with any additional rainfall.
Concerns were voiced over the regular occurrence of disasters during rainy seasons, which could be mitigated if agricultural activities along the escarpment were controlled. This farming practice, participants noted, loosens the soil and contributes to landslides. Keiyo South DCC Diana Wekesa described the situation as a “time bomb,” urging the county government to implement policies to discourage farming on steep areas.
CECM for Public Service Monica Rotich called for collaboration between the agriculture and environment departments. She suggested that farmers be advised on the type of trees suitable for planting on the escarpment to prevent soil erosion, stating that simply advising the planting of fruit trees was insufficient.