ISIOLO, Kenya, Oct 1 – Counties and development partners will meet with the National Government officials to review the required resources for mitigation of the negative impacts of the predicted El-Nino.
Speaking at Isiolo Boys High School, Isiolo County, during thanksgiving service and homecoming of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Petroleum Mohamed Liban – where he was also coronated as a Borana Elder- the Deputy President said the meeting will solidify the approach to ensuring no lives are lost.
On Thursday Gachagua held another meeting with key stakeholders to assess the situation at the Karen Official Residence of the Deputy President.
“I have organised a technical meeting on Tuesday (next week) on the resources the National Government, Counties and partners have set aside for mitigation measures,” the Deputy president said.
Gachagua said an understanding of the resources the other agencies have committed to mitigation of El Nino is important to also capture possible strategies of conserving the water for other uses.
The weather forecast has warned that the country will face enhanced rains between September and January 2024. The rains are likely to cause havoc if not proper measures are put in place.
The Deputy President has been coordinating partner responses to emergencies.
On the other hand, the Deputy President also asked the communities in Isiolo County and neighbouring regions to stop banditry and theft of livestock, which he termed as anti-development. He said it is time for the communities to promote integration between different communities and counties for development.
“We want children to go to school. Banditry and stealing of livestock is a thing of the past. Banditry is taking our country backwards. Professor Kithure Kindiki (Cabinet Secretary for Interior) and Aden Duale (Cabinet Secretary for Defence) are in this matter. They will deal with those criminals as instructed by President William Ruto,” he warned.
The Deputy President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Duale, Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum), Mithika Linturi (Agriculture), several Principal Secretaries, Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan, among other leaders.
Duale said the Government is determined to end insecurity within the borders of Kenya.
“We will hunt down the terrorists even into Somalia. We will deal with them within and outside our country,” he said.
While insisting that there will be no extrajudicial killings, Mr Duale asked the community to shun banditry and livestock theft saying President Ruto will not tolerate economic sabotage through banditry.
He added that the Government will resolve the land dispute between the Kenya Defence Forces and the people of Isiolo. He said the community has been invited for discussions in two weeks to amicably settle the matter.
United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Cleophas Malala said the party supports the ongoing National Dialogue Committee at Bomas, Nairobi. He, however, rejected demands that the 2022 General Election be audited.
“We support the Bipartisan talks because we love peace. But we will not support the audit of elections. The elections were decided by the Kenyans and the Supreme Court of Kenya made a determination. We cannot go back to the trenches to discuss past elections,” he said.
He said the party will present its position at the Bipartisan talks at Bomas on Sunday.
The Principal Secretary Liban said he is ready for the assignment of serving Kenyans.
