Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
In a major step toward enhancing inclusive disaster resilience, the County Government of Homa Bay, Kenya, hosted a four-day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) from 26-30 May 2025. The event was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa, under the project “Strengthening Early Warning and Early Action in Kenya” funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The workshop brought together 55 participants, including representatives from local government departments, national agencies, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and community-based organizations (CBOs). The gathering provided a valuable platform that focused on integrating the needs and perspectives of at-risk populations including persons with disabilities into DRR strategies and early warning systems.
Addressing Critical Gaps Through Collaboration
The workshop revealed key opportunities to strengthen the county’s disaster preparedness. Through participatory assessments, the workshop identified several areas for improvement, including the need for better coordination mechanisms, more inclusive early warning systems, and stronger integration of gender and disability perspectives in disaster planning.
While Homa Bay has a solid policy foundation such as the County Emergency and Disaster Management Act and active participation in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, the assessments showed clear opportunities to make these systems more inclusive and effective.
“New hazards are emerging-beyond floods and droughts we now face strange, extreme weather events. We must explore innovative, cost-effective ways to strengthen preparedness. One shilling spent on preparedness will save hundreds in response. We must shift our investments from response to resilience,” said Najib Abdi, the technical lead for disaster risk management at the Council of Governors.
Making Early Warnings Accessible
A highlight of the workshop was the focus on strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems. Kenya recently launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative, and Homa Bay County was recognized as a pioneer in county-level implementation.
“Early warning systems save lives, but only if the warnings reach everyone. We learned that we need to think differently about how we communicate risks – using local languages, accessible formats, and trusted community networks, ” Col (Rtd) David Samoei, MBS, Director NDOC.
The county’s Climate Information Center already supports over 200,000 farmers with agro-advisories and early warning information. The workshop explored ways to expand this system to reach more vulnerable populations, including women, persons with disabilities, and rural communities who may have limited access to traditional communication channels.
“At the Public Health Directorate, we rely on disease surveillance systems and historical data to anticipate outbreaks like cholera and measles. Our risk reduction efforts focus on improving water supply, sanitation, and vaccination coverage to prevent such health emergencies before they occur,” said James Kabaka, County Public Health Officer
A Model for Inclusive Resilience
One of the workshop’s achievements was bringing together diverse stakeholders who are often overlooked in the disaster planning processes. Representatives from OPDs, and CBOs worked alongside government officials to identify barriers and solutions. The assessments revealed that persons with disabilities face significant challenges during disaster events, from inaccessible evacuation routes to lack of appropriate communication during emergencies. Similarly, women’s leadership potential and traditional knowledge are often underutilized in disaster preparedness and response.
Building Forward: From Assessment to Action
The workshop concluded with the development of actions addressing identified gaps through coordinated, multi-sectoral approaches. Priority areas include the establishment of dedicated coordination mechanisms for inclusive DRR and development of disaggregated data systems to better understand community vulnerabilities. Key initiatives also focus on strengthening infrastructure accessibility through universal design standards, integrating traditional and indigenous knowledge into formal early warning systems, and building capacity among government staff and first responders on inclusive practices.
“We often develop comprehensive plans but fail to integrate them into our County Intergrated Development Plans and Annual Development Plans leaving them unfunded. We also haven’t properly analysed trigger points for different hazards – when exactly should we activate emergency responses? These are two critical gaps we need to address, ” Willy Bolo, Ag. Director Economic Planning & Budget
A Foundation for Regional Learning
This training builds on efforts in resilience building work previously established through the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA). The workshop’s participatory approach and comprehensive assessments provide a replicable model for other counties seeking to strengthen their disaster resilience through inclusive, multi-stakeholder collaboration. “This was not just a technical workshop-it was a call to action. Disaster risk reduction is a system of protection, prevention, and preparedness that must be embedded in everything we do. I am committing to strengthen interdepartmental coordination so that disaster risk is integrated into all health planning and service delivery mechanisms,” said Grace Osewe, County Executive Committee Member for Public Health and Medical Services.