By: Emily Mikwa
Kisumu County has taken a decisive step in safeguarding its urban future by hosting a three-day workshop focused on Urban Risk-Informed Development Planning.
Held at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel from March 24th to 26th, 2026, the forum brought together over 60 experts including city planners, disaster risk management specialists, and representatives from the private sector and civil society.
The collaborative effort, organized alongside the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), aims to move beyond emergency response toward a long-term, institutionalized strategy for resilience.
The workshop serves as a follow-up to previous resilience assessments, focusing on the co-creation of a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy.
Participants worked to align local actions with the four priority areas of the Sendai Framework: understanding disaster risk, strengthening governance, investing in reduction, and enhancing preparedness for effective recovery.
A standout feature of this emerging strategy is its deep commitment to gender and disability inclusion, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are at the heart of the county’s disaster planning and accountable governance.
Beyond drafting the strategy, the sessions equipped local leaders and national government officials with practical tools for sustainable disaster risk financing and monitoring.
By the end of the workshop, stakeholders are expected to develop a roadmap for the official adoption of the DRR Strategy, setting a clear timeline for implementation. The initiative marks a significant shift for Kisumu County as it integrates climate adaptation into its core urban development, building a safer and more resilient environment for all its residents.
