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Sonko gets Sh200m from UK for disaster management


City Hall has received a Sh200 million boost from the United Kingdom to revamp its disaster management department by improving disaster knowledge, management and response.

The money is from the Global Challenges Research Fund and will be injected into Nairobi’s ‘The Hub’ project, a multi-hazard urban risk transition project.

Governor Mike Sonko said the money will be channeled towards mitigating effects of frequent fire outbreaks and flash floods experienced during the rainy season.

“We often face flash floods, disease and epidemics and everyday threats like air pollution and collapse of buildings. However, we are determined to ensure no life is lost to disasters, especially the avoidable ones,” said Mr Sonko on Monday during the launch of the project.

The City Hall boss said ‘The Hub’ project will present Nairobi County with an opportunity to develop innovative policies and training policies and training, as well as risk assessment and management support tools.

MORE FIRE STATIONS

Mr Sonko at the same time said plans are underway to put up two more fire stations in Kasarani and Dagoretti sub-counties in addition to one currently being built along Kangundo Road and another at Waithaka area.

“We are reviewing the Nairobi County Disaster Management Act, 2015 so as to be more responsive to current unforeseen threats as well as developing a new disaster management plan and a new policy for the capital city,” he said.

Nairobi County is one of four cities across the world that benefited from the over Sh2 billion from the Global Challenges Research Fund to be distributed over the next five years. The other cities include Kathmandu in Nepal, Quito in Ecuador and Istanbul in Turkey.

“Nairobi is the African representative of the network that has received funds for disaster preparedness. It is one of four cities around the world that got a share of £20 million,” said Mark Pelling, a professor at King’s College, London.