Kenya: National disaster risk management policy 2017

Kenya is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the Greater Horn of Africa. Kenya’s development gains are under threat from increasing natural disasters. More than 70 per cent of natural disasters in Kenya result from extreme climatic events such as floods and droughts. An estimated 3 to 4 million Kenyans are affected annually by natural and human-made disasters that disrupt livelihoods and draw gains achieved in national development.

The aim of the disaster risk management (DRM) policy is to “Build 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.