LETTERS: Roll out disaster management plans early

Given the latest weather and climate outlook for Kenya in October to December (OND) 2018 by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) predicting a wet season with prolonged rainfall, the country needs to work on the finalization of a legal framework on disaster management and risk mitigation to enhance preparedness to deal with the situation.

Currently, the National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) leads other Government agencies in disaster response in the country, and the approach has been found wanting.Disaster Reduction Mitigation (DRM) Bill 2016 and the National Disaster Management Bill 2018 await Parliamentary debate and forwarding for consideration for enactment. Kenya prepared the Disaster Reduction Mitigation (DRM) Policy 2017 has been in works awaiting both discussion and approval in the National Parliament and the Assent by the President.