By Lavender Awuor
In a National symposium on disaster prevention held in Kisumu County on 13th of October, Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o delivered a message of unity and preparedness. He emphasized the critical need for disaster prevention and urged all stakeholders to work together to make Kisumu County more resilient. Disasters have previously taken a devastating toll on the county, particularly the 2020 floods that caused substantial damage and displacement. Governor Nyong’o’s message was clear “Disasters disrupt our lives, destroy property, and displace us from our homes. We must prevent disasters and be prepared.”
Kisumu County is actively taking steps to prevent and prepare for disasters, including the development of hazard atlases that consolidate information on the county’s hazards.
Collaboration with partners to develop effective strategies is also underway. Enhancing early warning systems and emergency response capabilities is a priority for the county, with Governor Nyong’o demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting people from disasters.
Kisumu County faces an array of hazards, including floods, droughts, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, making Governor Nyong’o’s call for collective action all the more timely. Disasters have a wide-reaching impact, affecting everyone, and thus necessitating cooperation among all stakeholders.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) in Kisumu. His speech, read on his behalf by UN Resident Representative Matheka Mwangi, highlighted the pressing need to address inequality in disaster risk reduction.
Guterres emphasized that breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality is essential to make communities less vulnerable to disasters. He noted that those with the least resources are often at the greatest risk during disasters and suffer disproportionately, further exacerbating poverty.
The theme of the 2023 IDDRR, “Fighting inequality for a resilient future,” holds greater significance in the face of climate crises, a global pandemic, and increased conflicts that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Guterres called on countries to address the root causes of inequality, including poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and discrimination. He stressed the importance of building a more just and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, as this is the path to creating a resilient future for all.
Both Governor Nyong’o and UN Secretary-General Guterres stressed the importance of collaboration and cooperation between various stakeholders, including government, the private sector, civil society, and individuals. This collective effort is crucial to reducing disaster risk and building resilience.
The speech read on behalf of the Secretary General of the Red Cross is a call to action to address inequality in order to create a more resilient future. The speech begins by acknowledging that disasters are not gender-sensitive, and that they impact people differently. The speaker then goes on to say that we must create abundance from inequality to ensure that everyone has equal and equitable access to resources and is able to build resilience so that they can take early actions during emergencies and disasters.
The speech then goes on to list some specific ways in which we can address inequality to create a more resilient future:
Invest in early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Promote education and awareness of disaster risk reduction.
Ensure that disaster response and recovery efforts are inclusive and equitable.
Support the most vulnerable and marginalized communities to build resilience.
The Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) is calling on counties to come up with a framework for managing disasters. In a speech at a symposium in Kisumu, LREB CEO Abala Wanga said that counties need to be better prepared to deal with the effects of climate change, which is making disasters more frequent and severe.
Wanga said that the framework should include measures for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. He also called for better coordination between counties and national government agencies in disaster management.
The LREB is a regional economic bloc that comprises seven counties in western Kenya: Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nandi, Siaya, and Vihiga.