This study investigates the implementation of devolution and disaster risk management (DRM) policies in Kenya, with a particular focus on informal settlements in the Mathare River Valley, Nairobi, during the urban floods of 2024.
Through the analysis of existing DRM policy frameworks and fourteen semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from NGOs, community-based organisations (CBOs), and local residents, this research explores perceptions of DRM implementation and the roles of both national and county governments during the flooding event.
Findings indicate that transparency, accountability, and the inclusive engagement of local actors are critical to the effective implementation of both devolution and DRM policies. Despite widespread support for the principle of devolution, poor policy execution has significantly undermined public trust. The study concludes that both levels of government must prioritise improved implementation strategies in order to restore trust and enhance the capacity to prevent and respond to future urban flooding.
In light of Kenya’s accelerating urbanisation and increasing climate variability, the inclusive and effective implementation of DRM policies is essential to safeguarding vulnerable urban populations.
This research, conducted with the support of Nuvoni and the LDE Thesis Lab, yielded valuable insights into the operational realities of DRM implementation and local resilience mechanisms. Notably, CBOs demonstrated strong organisational capacity and a sense of responsibility toward their communities, often compensating for institutional shortcomings by translating policy into meaningful local action. Ultimately, this thesis underscores that effective policy implementation is indispensable to building resilience in the face of urban environmental risks
By Charlotte Schenk
