The main intent of disaster risk reduction is prevention, but when faced with impossibilities, we focus on minimizing the harm to people, assets and livelihoods. This is especially important for volcanic eruptions, flash floods, cyclones, tsunamis, drought and disease outbreaks happen instantaneously and might not be well-prevented. This is where early warning systems come in, and they should be disseminated effectively to ensure that populations understand the risk analysis.

This year’s theme ‘ Substantially increasing the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030’ acknowledges the progress made in implementation of some of the policies as well as providing a blueprint for what is left.

So where exactly is Kenya at implementation of these conservation policies?

The Nairobi Declaration highlighted the targets and goals of implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction under which environmental strategies were put in place to achieving sustainable developments in the new millennium.

Fast forward to the Matrix of the Program of Action (Phase II 2021-2025), Kenya was still at the forefront to align with the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction where policies were created around :

-consolidating proven scientific and traditional knowledge

-generating and disseminating risk information for easier decision making

-establishing risk information management structures that amplify receptivity and conformity with risk information by guarantying that messages are understandable.

Kenya has indeed made a few steps in preventing disasters, management of the Covid-19 pandemic being a better example. But it is with no doubt that much needs to be done for the future is not guaranteed with no risks.