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“Apologise to Kenyans for El Nino misinformation”, President Ruto told
By Moses Muli
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi wants President William Ruto to apologise to Kenyans for issuing contradictory statements over the El Nino rains.
“I think the president owes this country an apology. Because he came out and said it is not going to be El Nino, it is just going to be rain. But now we have seen it is proper El Nino, and people have lost lives and property. I think he deserves to give an apology to Kenyans for misinforming them,” Osotsi said.
On October 22, President Ruto said the meteorology department had scaled down the El Nino notice to short rains, which is good for the country’s agricultural sector.
Contrary to his sentiments, the country has experienced heavy rains that have led to flooding in 33 counties in the country, leading to loss of life and destruction of property.
Osotsi’s call for an apology from the president comes a week after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua forced the met department to apologise over what he said was misleading information over the rains.
Met. department Director Dr. David Gikungu, who spoke after being summoned by Gachagua, regretted the miscommunication by the government which allayed fears of El Nino, therefore leading to deaths and destruction as Kenyans were caught off-guard.
He instead implored Kenyans to take caution as he intimated that the El Nino rains could continue up to the first quarter of 2024.
“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.
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Rains have been pounding the country with the peak projected to be this November according to The meteorogical department. So far 61 deaths have beeen reported and massive destruction of property and livestock. The coastal and Northern frontier districts of Garissa,Marsabit,Tana River most affected.