Nakuru residents living in flood prone areas have been urged to move to safer grounds amid El Nino fears.
Being among the counties earmarked as areas that might feel the direct effect of the rains, Roads and Planning CeC Joel Maina on Tuesday warned that everybody should take the initiative in ensuring that the worst does not happen.
In a media briefing in his office, Mr Maina reiterated the fact that the county was committed in ensuring safety to everybody during the El Nino season saying that the Sh500 M allocated was proof enough that all was well.
He further cautioned people living in slums, low lands, near rivers, lakes and dams and those living in landslide prone areas to take the weatherman’s caution seriously, lest they be caught off guard.
“The problem with Kenyans is that we never take precautionary measures seriously until the last minute then we start calling on the government to intervene,” said Mr Maina.
The rains, which are expected from October 10 are anticipated to be the heaviest to have hit the region in the recent years with all the earmarked counties working against time to deal with the looming anomaly.
“Climatic changes are unpredictable with nobody being sure of what to expect but weather forecasts are there to help us prepare before any unexpected climate change,” the CeC explained.
He noted that the precautionary measures are necessary because life is more important and it was their responsibility to protect the residents’ life at any given time.
This comes in the wake of revelations that a section of civil society groups on Tuesday threatened to demonstrate if the county government does not account for the Sh500 M set aside for El Nino arguing that no tangible action had been witnessed as the onset of the rains draws near.