The government has promised to pay medical and burial expenses for Kenyans affected by the recent floods that have killed dozens across the country.

Speaking before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, said the government would also help families rebuild homes destroyed by the floods.

“Hospital bills for all those injured will be settled. Burial expenses for the deceased will be covered, and assistance will be provided to families whose homes were swept away,” CS Ruku told Senators.

In a press release on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, police announced that the fatalities stand at forty-nine. CS Ruku said 9,033 households, around 42,819 people, have been displaced.

“The State Department for Special Programmes has embarked on the provision of relief food assistance and appropriate non-food items to displaced persons through the National Disaster Operations Centre,” he said.

He added that stakeholders will continue to monitor the situation, coordinate national response efforts, and provide regular updates.

Floods and drought response

On drought response, CS Ruku said the State Department for Special Programmes had adopted a multi-sector approach to support humans, livestock, and wildlife. Over the past three months, the government has spent Ksh10.1 billion on relief food for 2.6 million people, water trucking, borehole support, cash transfers, livestock vaccination, fodder, and school feeding programmes.

Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, called for a joint effort to address the challenges of both floods and droughts.

Committee members urged continuous preparedness among all agencies to avoid delays in emergency responses. They criticised county governments for inadequate action in disaster management.

“Counties are doing zero as far as drought and emergency are concerned. There is nothing tangible that the CoG has said counties are doing as far as the situation is concerned,” said Committee Chairperson Senator Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo).

Earlier, President William Ruto had announced that the government would cover hospital bills for those injured or affected by the floods and receiving treatment in public health facilities. In a statement on his official X account on March 7, 2026, he said,

“In addition, the Government will meet the hospital bills of those injured or affected by the flooding and currently receiving treatment in public health facilities. Emergency humanitarian support will also be extended to families facing displacement and hardship during this period.”