Nairobi News

A charity move by Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, towards victims of flooding in Mombasa County has left a section of Kenyans in outrage.

“The ongoing El-Nino rain has negatively affected our people across more than half our counties. We are working with Counties and partners to reduce human suffering even as we engage in lasting solutions. At Barawa, Kisauni Constituency in Mombasa County today, I had an opportunity of visiting families affected by the enhanced rains to share in their pain and reassure them of our commitment to supporting them in rebuilding their lives.

The food and non-food items we flagged off will help them meet their urgent needs for sustenance. Even as we invite more support from our development partners, County Governments need to expedite mitigation measures to prevent tragedy as the rains are expected to stretch into the first quarter of 2024,” said DP Gachagua during his tour to Mombasa.

One of the non-food items included in his care package were sanitary pads and a blanket. It was in one instance where he handed an aging grandmother this care package that particularly stood out. The granny also appeared to be displeased with what she received from DP Gachagua considering her face was scrunched up and was already turning away from the DP while still being handed the relief items.

It is important to note that females tend to stop menstruating between the ages of 45 and 51; and the granny in question appeared to be much older. A section of Kenyans were quick to latch onto this moment and expressed their outrage as sampled below:

“Yani mnapea hadi wanyanya Kotex? (You mean you are even giving grandmothers sanitary towels?) 😂😂😂😂,” asked Kulo Conrad.

“Ni nani Nyali hujifunika blanket. Hata mvua inyeshe kiasi gani Nyali people will still sweat at night. Hata watoto hua hawajifuniki. (No one in Nyali even covers themselves with a balnket, no matter how much rain falls. Nyali people will sweat at night. They don’t even cover their children),” added Nyamulo M.

Many people accused DP Gachagua, who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development Peninah Malonza, Principal Secretary National Treasury Dr Chris Kiptoo, Chairman of the National Assembly, Finance and National Planning Committee Kuria Kimani (Molo MP), Mohammed Ali (Nyali MP), Feisal Bader (Msambweni MP), Stanley Muthama (Lamu West), Paul Biego (Chesumei), Lamu Senator Joseph Kamau and other leaders of carrying out public relations moves to paint the Kenya Kwanza government in good light despite giving conflicting information regarding the presence of El-Nino in the country.

“An elderly woman being given sanitary towels is quite ridiculous,” added Chris Adede.

“Mama, serikali inakuregeshea usichana wako (Granny, the government is giving you back your youth,” laughed Denis Maina.

“Her eyes tell the pain in her heart and soul,” opined Caleb Maundu.

“Politics in Africa have to be about this. Otherwise hautapata kura. We lowered our expectations on leadership. We deserve this,” added Martin Kivuva.

For the past month, and predictably over December, Kenya has been receiving heavy rainfall influenced by the El Nino phenomenon. Several parts of the country have reported flooding and Mombasa County has been one of the worst hit.

“Together with Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and MCAs Manuari Juma (Bofu) and Nusura Kimuswa (Mtongwe), we visited the county government’s rescue centers in Dimbwini (Bofu) and Mtongwe Level IV Hospital (Mtongwe) to review the status of care being given to those displaced as a result of the El Niño rains in Likoni.