Migori: A Member of the Migori County Assembly (MCA), Samson Obonyo, has raised concerns over the distribution of relief food meant for residents affected by emergencies, ahead of the expected September-October heavy rains in Migori County. Speaking to the press, Obonyo highlighted an alert from the Meteorological Department regarding the anticipated El Niño rains, emphasizing the need for preparedness in flood-prone areas such as Kadem in Nyatike-Sub-County.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county has allocated Sh44.2 million in the 2026/27 financial year budget for emergency preparedness and response. The county government, through the Department of Environment, has reportedly purchased relief supplies, including 500 bags of maize, 900 bags of rice, 500 bags of sugar, and 500 bundles of wheat flour, among other non-food items. However, Obonyo alleged that these supplies have been distributed to churches instead of being reserved for residents potentially affected by emergencies.
Obonyo expressed his co
ncerns, stating, “I am shocked because there is no emergency in those churches that would warrant the governor to release relief food meant for emergencies.” He further called on investigative agencies to probe the alleged distribution of relief supplies and verify whether the funds and food were used for their intended purposes.
The MCA also warned that vulnerable residents in areas prone to flooding and other effects of heavy rains may be left without essential supplies if the county exhausts its emergency stocks before the rains arrive. Additionally, Obonyo raised concerns over an alleged delay in the payment of county employees, citing communication indicating a potential delay in July salaries due to the county budget not being uploaded. He questioned the occurrence of such a delay after the passage of a budget amounting to about Sh12.4 billion.
Obonyo urged the county administration to address the situation and ensure timely payment of salaries to county workers. He also called for proper accountabili
ty in managing public resources, particularly the funds allocated for emergency response, stressing that residents should be the primary beneficiaries of such programs.
