Gov't reaffirms commitment to disaster preparedness following Kibra fire tragedy

Gov't reaffirms commitment to disaster preparedness following Kibra fire tragedy

Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, CS Geoffrey Ruku. PHOTO|COURTESY

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has reiterated the government’s commitment to proactive disaster preparedness and swift response following the devastating fire that engulfed Mukungu Village in Kibra and other recent incidents.

The inferno, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, left over 300 households homeless and destroyed property worth millions of shillings.

During an early morning visit to the affected area on Thursday, CS Ruku assessed the damage and pledged immediate government support to the displaced families.

The CS returned to Kibra on Friday to lead a relief distribution exercise at the Kibra Deputy County Commissioner’s office. The aid package included food, bedding, and dignity packs to offer temporary relief to those affected.

Speaking to residents, CS Ruku emphasised that the government, under the leadership of President William Ruto, remains fully committed to ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind during times of crisis.

He highlighted that his ministry would fully implement Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, which sets out a coordinated national strategy for disaster management.

“This Executive Order is not just a policy document. It is a direct commitment from President Ruto to the people of Kenya—a pledge to safeguard lives and livelihoods,” CS Ruku stated.

The CS underscored the importance of both short-term humanitarian support and long-term resilience building.

He noted that affordable housing projects are being rolled out in several informal settlements, including Kibra, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, and Korogocho, as part of efforts to provide safer, more resilient living environments and reduce vulnerabilities in densely populated areas.

CS Ruku was accompanied during the relief exercise by Nairobi Senator Karen Nyamu and Kibra Member of Parliament Peter Ochieng, signaling strong collaboration among national and local leaders during the crisis.

The Executive Order No. 1 of 2025 assigns a dual mandate to the Ministry of Public Service through its two state departments. Through the State Department for Special Programmes, the Ministry is responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

This includes providing food aid and essential supplies, managing the Strategic Food Reserve, offering shelter and mobility solutions, managing public information during emergencies, and implementing early warning systems and evacuation protocols. The department also supports displaced families, oversees community rebuilding after disasters, and coordinates donations and volunteer mobilisation during national emergencies.

In addition, the Ministry, through the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, is charged with overseeing public service reforms, setting operational standards, managing human resource information systems, and supervising key public institutions such as the Kenya School of Government, Huduma Centres, and the National Youth Service (NYS).

The department also administers public service insurance and welfare benefits, promotes career development in public service, drives innovation in service delivery, manages government payroll policy, and offers counselling and mental health support services across the public sector.

CS Ruku emphasized that building a responsive and well-trained public service is central to national disaster preparedness. “We cannot respond effectively to emergencies without strong systems, the right people, and the right structures in place,” he said.

The Ministry will continue working closely with the Nairobi County Government, the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), and key national agencies such as the National Disaster Operations Center, the National Response and Emergency Recovery Secretariat, and the National Steering Committee on Disaster Response to ensure coordinated, timely, and community-focused disaster response across the country.

“This is about protecting lives, restoring dignity, and building resilience. It is what President Ruto has committed to, and we will deliver,” CS Ruku affirmed.

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