Government to Cover Medical and Burial Costs for Flood Victims, Senators Blast Counties for Inaction
By News Desk
CS Ruku and Senator Edwin Sifuna/photo
The Government has pledged to cover all medical and burial expenses for Kenyans injured or killed in the recent devastating floods, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, told the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on Tuesday.
CS Ruku confirmed that the Government would also assist families whose homes were destroyed, supporting the reconstruction of houses for displaced citizens. “The State Department for Special Programmes has embarked on providing relief food assistance and essential non-food items to displaced persons through the National Disaster Operations Centre,” said CS Ruku.
The recent floods have claimed 45 lives across the country: 27 in Nairobi, 11 in Eastern Kenya, 5 in Rift Valley, 1 in Nyanza, and 1 in Coast. Four people remain missing, while 9,033 households—approximately 42,819 people—have been displaced.
CS Ruku highlighted ongoing drought response efforts, noting that Ksh10.1 billion has been committed over the past three months to support relief for 2.6 million people, including emergency water trucking, livestock vaccination, cash transfers, and school feeding programs.
Echoing the call for urgent action, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, stressed the need for a coordinated approach to tackle both drought and flood-related emergencies.
However, Senators criticized county governments for inadequate disaster response. Committee Chairperson Sen. Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) lamented, “Counties are doing zero as far as drought and emergency are concerned. There is nothing tangible that the CoG has said counties are doing as far as the situation is concerned.”
Vice Chair Prof. Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Okongo Mogeni (Nyamira), Julius Murgor (West Pokot), Dr. Lelegwe Ltumbesi (Samburu), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Joseph Githuku (Lamu), and Chemitei Kiprono (Baringo) were also present during the meeting, urging continuous preparedness among all relevant agencies to prevent delayed responses in future emergencies.
The Senate Committee has called for all ministries and agencies to actively engage in disaster planning while holding county governments accountable for effective on-ground action.
