Simon Kachapin, West Pokot Governor has vowed to stop hoarding of items meant to be shared during his administration.
He was speaking yesterday while flagging off aid that was meant for 2019 floods and landslide victims, aid that was discovered stored at the predecessor’s residence in Kapenguria town after the 2022 general election.
“It was shocking to discover items that were meant for 2019 flood and landslide victims stored at the former governor’s residence in Kapenguria town,” he expressed.
He observed that it was disappointing that, three years after the tragedy some of the donations had not been delivered to the flood- and landslide victims of Nyarkualian and Parua locations.
The County boss pointed out that donations, including water tanks, clothes, utensils, mats, crutches, and wheelchairs, were found stored at the governor’s residence when he came to office last year, noting, the donations would be distributed to the vulnerable victims who were injured during the disaster.
He said that during the landslide, donors and humanitarian organisations had responded to the calamity by distributing food, clothing, wheelchairs, utensils, mats, water tanks, crutches, and mattresses, but it was shocking to discover that some of the items had not been distributed to the victims by the former county boss’s administration.
He explained that the landslide caused 23 deaths, displaced 2,700 residents, as well as a collapse of a bridge in Weiwei Ward. 14 people were killed in Batei Ward. Seven others were also lost and have never been located. Meanwhile, 2,500 residents were forced to flee.
He also narrated that Tapach Ward saw 17 people die and 2,900 people were displaced.
The governor thanked the humanitarian organisations and donors, including the Red Cross and UNHCR, for their support. He also assured them that no more hoarding of items intended for the public would occur.
He stated that the county had taken steps to manage disasters and was working to improve their preparedness to ensure safety for all residents.
Deputy Governor Robert Komole said that when he asked the previous regime why they hadn’t distributed the donations they didn’t get a reasonable explanation which led to the items not being distributed.
He said that it was unfair for donations to not be distributed after well-wishers had given them quickly to help the victims.
Komole stated that, when he was a Member in County Assembly (MCA), there was no budget for disaster preparedness.
By Anthony Melly & Floridah Chepengat
Source: kenyanews
