Kenya’s President William Ruto has proclaimed Friday as a public holiday to mourn the loss of 238 lives due to persistent flooding.
In an announcement made on Wednesday, the president specified that the day will be dedicated to national tree planting initiatives aimed at addressing climate change impacts.
Floods have inundated Kenya, along with other regions in East Africa, resulting in over 235,000 individuals being displaced and seeking refuge in numerous camps.
President Ruto has also declared the nationwide reopening of schools, following a two-week delay caused by intense rains that inflicted substantial damage to hundreds of educational institutions.
The government has earmarked funds for repairing over 1,000 schools affected by the torrential rains and subsequent flooding.
According to the meteorological department’s daily weather forecasts, moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated across most parts of the country.
The government is currently undertaking compulsory evacuations of residents residing in flood-prone zones and areas adjacent to rivers and dams, as water levels in the country’s primary hydroelectric reservoirs surge to unprecedented heights.
This week, authorities used bulldozers to demolish residences in informal settlements such as Mathare and Mukuru in the capital city of Nairobi. In response to the missed deadline for evacuation amidst hazardous rainfall, the president assured displaced families a relocation assistance package equivalent to $75.