Met boss apologises for 'miscommunication' during DP Gachagua briefing on El Nino

The Kenya Meteorological Department has now come out to rescind earlier remarks that there would be only above-average rainfall, instead asking Kenyans to brace for El Nino.

Met. department Director Dr. David Gikungu, who spoke on Friday after being summoned by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to address the current state of rains in the country, regretted the miscommunication by the government which allayed fears of El Nino, therefore leading to deaths and destruction as Kenyans were caught off-guard.

“I want to point out that as initially given in the forecast, we have El Nino in this short rainy season 2023 and we do apologize for the lack of communication or miscommunication because that was a big mistake but we are sorry about that, but moving forward let us prepare ourselves for enhanced rainfall as a result of El Nino phenomena as we are in,” Dr. Gikungu stated.

DP Gachagua thereafter stated: “I think the matter is settled, El Nino it is.”

The DP further highlighted the plight of Kenyans affected by the devastating rains, underscoring that more than 19 counties have been affected.

“Over the last few weeks, many parts of the country have been receiving more than heavy rains and it has threatened lives, especially downstream... I thank the media for all your work in creating awareness and all the humanitarian plans,” he said.

“More than 19 counties in ASAL and non-ASAL areas have been adversely affected by the continuing heavy rains.”

The DP, who chairs the Emergency Response Committee, subsequently directed the counties to reallocate resources initially set aside for the mitigation of the heavy rains.

“We take this opportunity to request the county governments to reallocate resources to mitigate this emergency,” he said.

He lamented the destruction in many parts of the country occasioned after floods wreaked havoc and destroyed infrastructure, displaced families and led to deaths of people and livestock.

President Ruto had downscaled the possibility of El Nino months after the weatherman warned the public that the rains would be kicking off in September this year.

The Head of State previously said the country would experience significant rains which is good for the country's agricultural sector.

He added that the prayers for rains he conducted at the Nyayo National Stadium in February paid off, as he stated that the country had prolonged rains and allowed farmers to produce more.

"There are those who criticised us when we prayed for rains at Nyayo stadium. They said a whole president is praying for rain. Now see, we have more rains than we have had in four years, that is God's doing," Ruto said.