Members of the Nairobi County Disaster Management Team have come under scrutiny after appearing before the Senate Public Finance Oversight Committee over concerns about their professional qualifications.
The team appeared before the committee chaired by Moses Kajwang and attended by Edwin Sifuna, where lawmakers questioned whether the members possess the appropriate expertise required to handle disaster risk management or emergency response in Nairobi.
Senators raised concerns that several members of the disaster management team hold academic qualifications in fields such as theology, librarianship, tourism and travel, among others, which are not directly related to disaster risk management or emergency response.
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The committee questioned whether such backgrounds are sufficient to manage the complex and critical responsibilities associated with disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response in Kenya’s capital.
It also stressed that disaster management requires specialized training in areas such as emergency planning, crisis coordination, and risk mitigation, particularly in a major urban center like Nairobi that faces frequent challenges including floods, fires, and building collapses.
The committee indicated it will continue reviewing the matter to determine whether reforms or changes are necessary to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capacity within the county government.
