This National Disaster Risk Management Policy outlines the need for the establishment, streamlining, and strengthening of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) institutions, co-ordination frameworks, partnerships, and regulations in Kenya, ensuring prevention, preparedness, relief and rehabilitation, back to mitigation and prevention from hazards, showing thus a deep shift from short-term relief responses to sustainable development and continual risk reduction and preparedness. The aim of the Policy is building a safe and disaster-resilient nation through establishment of a robust Disaster Risk Management system that contributes to and protects the achievements of Kenya’s national development. The overall objective of the Policy is to substantially reduce natural and human-induced disaster risk and associated losses in social, economic and environmental assets at National and County levels, through the establishment of an integrated multi-hazard DRM approach. The Policy is structured as follows: chapter 1 deals with the background and the rationale of the Policy, providing history of disasters in Kenya, the existing regional and global frameworks for Disaster Risk Reduction, types of risks and vulnerabilities, purpose and DRM Policy objectives, the guiding principles and linkages with stakeholders; chapter 2 discusses the situational analysis of disasters in the country, natural and man-made hazards that may develop into disasters, and challenges in addressing disasters in the country; chapter 3 highlights Policy objectives and the strategies; chapter 4 addresses institutional framework and existing Disaster Risk Management initiatives; chapter 5 outlines decision making, co-ordination and funding mechanisms for DRM and levels of declaration of disasters; chapter 6 is about other provisions in the Policy including non-discrimination, indemnity, international and national standards, accreditation, monitoring and transition, and Policy implementation; chapter 7 highlights monitoring and evaluation of the DRM Policy implementation. The Policy identifies these objectives: establishing and strengthening institutional mechanisms and capacities for disaster risk management; reducing disaster risks and vulnerabilities at County and National levels; mainstreaming disaster risk management into sustainable development policies, programmes and strategies; enhancing resilience at the County and National levels to the impacts of disaster risks and climate change; enhancing effective and coordinated disaster preparedness, prevention, response, mitigation, and recovery. Concerning natural and man-made disasters, this Policy focuses on: drought and floods; landslides; disease outbreaks and epidemics; earthquakes; fire incidents; poor agricultural and environmental practices; maritime accidents; hazardous materials incidents; air accidents; terrorism.
Kenya · 2017-01-01