DP Rigathi Gachagua has made a U-turn on his prior remarks that the National Government had disbursed Kshs10 billion to county governments to help is managing the effects of El Nino rains.
Speaking on Wednesday, the second in command said that he was shocked by the claims, adding that governors shouldn’t expect any of those funds.
“We are shocked to see governors complaining that they are yet to receive money for El Nino from the national government, such money is not coming,” he said during a development forum at his Karen residence.
He went to laud governors of counties Busia, Wajir, Garissa, Mandela and Kwale for setting aside funds that would help in managing effects of the heavy rains.
Gachagua called upon governors from other counties to emulate the same, adding that the national government had already spend 2.4 billion in response to El Nino.
His change of tune on counties receiving Kshs10 billion El Nino funds comes after governors bashed him for lying.
Gachagua, on Tuesday, claimed that the money had been disbursed while speaking in Mombasa. He went ahead to call out Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir for failing use the funds adequately.
“We want governor Nassir to buy food for those affected by floods. As a governor you also have money. People can’t die yet you have kept the money in government,” he said.
Governor Nassir however came out to blast Gachagua for lying to the public.
Other governors who joined him are Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru and her Siaya Counterpart James Orengo
“To date, we wish to state that the County Governments have not received any allocation from the National Government to go towards mitigation measures.
“We note with concern public utterances that suggest that County Governments have received funds from the National Government to support the mitigation of the devastating impact of the El Nino Rain,” Waiguru stated.
