By: Matilda Atieno
While many cities wait for disaster to strike before they act, Kisumu County is busy building a fortress of foresight. From March 24th to 26th, 2026, the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel became a hub of strategic transformation as over 60 experts gathered for a high-stakes workshop on Urban Risk-Informed Development Planning.
The three-day forum, organized in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), marked a definitive shift in the county’s philosophy: moving away from reactive emergency response and toward a long-term, institutionalized culture of resilience. Day three was graced by CECM for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources Hon. Judith Oluoch.
At the heart of the workshop was the co-creation of a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy. Participants meticulously aligned local actions with the four global pillars of the Sendai Framework, which included Understanding disaster risk through data-driven assessments, strengthening governance to manage risk effectively, investing in resilience for structural and financial stability, and enhancing preparedness to ensure we “Build Back Better.”
A standout feature of this emerging strategy and a point of pride for the Kisumu administration is its deep commitment to gender and disability inclusion.
In her closing remarks, CECM Judith Oluoch emphasized that a city is only as resilient as its most vulnerable resident. “We are not just drafting a technical document,” she noted. “We are creating an accountable governance framework that puts women, children, and persons living with disabilities at the center of our safety protocols.
In Kisumu, inclusion is not an afterthought; it is the foundation.”
The sessions didn’t stop at planning; they equipped local and national officials with practical tools for disaster risk financing. Chief Officer Timothy Kajwang Nyakwamba highlighted the importance of moving toward sustainable funding models that ensure resilience activities are integrated into every departmental budget.
By the final session, the stakeholders had developed a clear Roadmap for Adoption, setting a strict timeline for the official implementation of the DRR Strategy.
As the workshop concluded earlier today, the atmosphere was one of resolve. By integrating climate adaptation into the core of urban development, Kisumu is doing more than just protecting infrastructure; it is safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of every citizen in the Lake Region.
