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Opposition leader Raila Odinga has criticised the government for constantly talking about climate change while disregarding weatherman warnings on floods and being caught unprepared.
In his statement on Tuesday, April 30, on the flooding crisis in the country, Raila called on the government to accept the failure and confront it in case another emergency occurs.
He further said the flooding situation had returned the country to the initial stages of confronting an emergency.
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"The devastation has made clear that as a nation, we must confront the emergency of our failure to learn. The government has been talking big on climate change, yet when the menace comes in full force, we have been caught unprepared. Even though the meteorological department had accurately predicted the coming heavy rains and storms, there were no advance contingency plans. We have therefore been reduced to planning, searching, and rescuing at the same time," he said.
According to Raila, the flooding experienced in the country has exposed the country's lack of preparedness for the adverse effects of the climate change crisis.
He said Kenya has to reconsider its priorities and accountability for such emerging situations.
"These floods in many ways laid bare our country's failure to properly plan particularly for weather and climate change drove disasters and the underinvestment in infrastructure and social welfare across the country. the situation calls for accountability and a reordering of our priorities as a country," Raila added.
Raila further called on the government to ensure that low-income earners get priority attention and their pleas heard, as the government continues with its recovery efforts.
He extended his condolences to the victims of floods across the country, he urged well-wishers to support him as he further mobilises help for the affected families in whatever form they can.
Motorists Advised to use alternative routes
On Tuesday, Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) asked motorists and other road users to avoid flooded routes and use alternative routes.
KENHA closed the Mai Mahiu- Narok Highway including the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway after a nearby river in Old Kijabe burst it banks and and claiming dozen of lives.
Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke
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Opposition leader Raila Odinga (l) has slammed government over unpreparedness due to floods. A section of Mathare area flooded (r).
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