1 NATIONAL POLICY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT
A PRESENTATION DURING THE DROUGHT RISK REDUCTION IN THE HORN OF AFRICA, WORKSHOP. HELD AT SAROVA STANLEY HOTEL (NAIROBI). ON 11TH -12TH MAY, 2010 BY ABACH W. NAMAA ASSISTANT SECRETARY 1 DISASTER RISK REDUCTION DEPT MOSSP-KENYA
2 INTRODUCTION Kenya is vulnerable to a variety of disasters. Weather related natural phenomena such as droughts, floods, lands and lightning trigger the common disasters in many parts of the country. Anthropogenic factors like land degradation, deforestation of catchment areas, poor agricultural practices, inappropriate land use systems, changing living conditions, among others, contribute to increased impacts from the various, natural hazards and change in disaster patterns.
3 Cont. All these factors have made Kenya have frequent and complex mixtures of these disasters at the same time. This profile is getting complex resulting to annual and repeated losses of live, loss of property, infrastructure and other elements of development, leading to under development.
4 DISASTER ZONES IN KENYA
There are 5 major disaster regions in Kenya i) The ASAL Areas (80% of Kenya) ii) Central Rift Valley (between Baringo and Kajiado) iii)In shores and plains of Lake Victoria iv) The mount Kenya Region Each of these region has its own disasters, which differ in terms of: - Disaster complexity i.e. frequency of occurrences, extent of coverage, time, severity of impacts, their synergy of occurrence and upgrading.
5 Cont. - Climate change has worsened disasters in complexity and intensity due to change in cultures that made adoption to these disasters very weak and thus increases people’s vulnerability. The current trends in disasters occurrences in Kenya in terms of frequency and impacts has made the government to develop policies workable towards disaster management which ensures all stakeholders are informed about these disasters.
6 MOST RECENT DISASTERS IN KENYA
Kenya has had a number of most recent disasters in its history. They include: 1984 to present: HIV/AIDS pandemic 1991/92/93: drought affected about 1.5 million people in Northern Kenya 1994: Mtongwe, Mombasa ferry accident in which 270 people died 1997/98: Elnino floods which affected 1.5 million people and 80% of small stock perished. 1998: US Embassy, Nairobi bomb blast, where 214 people died and 5,600 injured.
7 Cont. 1991: Tsavo, Voi train accident from which 32 people died and injured 358. 2000/2001: drought affected 5 million people 2002: Paradise Hotel, Mombasa. 13 people died as a result of bombing. 2003, 2004,2005: severe drought affected the country. 2007/2008: Post election violence, in which 1,300 people were killed and 660,000 displaced. 2009: Sachang’wan fire disaster which killed many people. 2009/2010:Cases of floods and landslides were reported.
8 STAKEHOLDRES IN FORMULATION OF POLICY
All the government line ministries. Non-state actors in disaster management, both local and international. UN-Agencies. Academic Institutions. Research Institutions.
9 The Government’s Intentions::
Prevent disasters and minimize the disruption they cause by putting mitigation structures in place. Enhancing existing capacities by: - Helping people become more resilient to hazard events. - Building the capacity of institutions to act appropriately in the face of disasters. -Building a well-managed disaster response system. - Working to reduce people’s vulnerability to disasters Ensure that disaster policy intersect with development policy and poverty-reduction. It must be multi-sectoral and applicable at all levels.
10 POLICY OBJECTIVES Establish a framework for managing disasters in Kenya that takes into account the difference between rapid onset and slow onset of disasters. To ensure that disaster management is coordinated and focuses on both risk reduction and maintaining an efficient disaster response capacity. To promote linkages between disaster management and development. To outline appropriate institutional structures and formalize partnerships between all spheres of government and with different stakeholders.
11 Cont. To promote programmes and strategies that aim to reduce the vulnerability of Kenyans to the recurrent hazards they face. To provide clear financial provisions for disaster management. Provide adequate and sufficient resources to ensure the effective implementation of the policy and subsequent strategies and programmes. Promote disaster management training and community awareness. To empower communities at all levels on Disaster Risk Reduction by mitigating vulnerability.
12 Cont. To prepare the communities at all levels by strengthening their capacities, preparedness and resilience. To integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management into National development planning at all levels. To integrate Disaster Management into National Education Curriculum, so as to become part of National Education System. To systematically monitor and evaluate the trends and status of climate change and its impacts on the various types of disasters and development issues. All these objectives are to have legislative instruments to promote systematic coordination of disaster management, promote high prospects of sustainable development and saving lives and property.
13 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
The government has to formulate a coordinated policy framework for integrated strategies for entire disaster system. Formulation of a management system, which makes possible a strategic response at all levels down to local communities. Establish a National system for monitoring hazards for early warning. Institutionalization, coordination of vertical and horizontal management of Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management.
14 Cont. Having a periodic review of Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Policies. There is a provision for National Parliament to deliberate and legislate on the domestication of international conventions on Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management which has ratified e.g. HFA, UNPCC etc.
15 ADVOCACY/GOVERNMENT RESPOSIBILITY
The government is ultimately responsible for disaster management. All citizens are responsible for taking measures to protect their own lives and property. Government has to disseminate the contents of the Disaster Management Policy to all levels. Government has to advocate to all partners, e.g. International donor community, on the hazards that regularly affect Kenya and the measures that the government is taking to minimize the effect of these, and to manage disasters.
16 Cont. Build community awareness on the different disaster risks that the various communities face and design local disaster management plans. Work with the media to disseminate the Governments strategy on disaster management and to appeal for funds when necessary.
17 PROPOSED INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
The Ministry of State for Special Programmes would be responsible for the co-ordination of the Disaster management Policy. - Promote Integration and coordination of Disaster Management through the National Platform. National institute for disaster research to improve systematic monitoring and promotion of research. National Agency for Disaster Management, that Integrate both Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management.
18 RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND FUNDING
Financial provision is required for all aspects of disaster management: - Mitigation -Prevention - Preparedness - Response - Monitoring There should be adequate budgetary provision to line ministries and departments. to operate initiatives that improve people’s resilience to disasters.
19 Cont. Government Appeals for a response to a specific disaster, sources of these funds are members of the public, industry, development partners and donors.
20 MONITORING/EVALUATION
Ministry of State for Special Programmes will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the disaster management policy and systems. Aim of monitoring and evaluation is: - To assess to what extent the overall goals of mitigating and responding to disasters to save lives, livelihoods and environment are met. - To incorporate lessons learnt into policy updates and annual programmes. - To measure progress against objectives and specified outputs. -To audit the use of funds.
21 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION