Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has secured Cabinet approval for a new Disaster Management Policy and Emergency Response Bill aimed at strengthening the city’s ability to handle fires, floods, building collapses and other emergencies.
The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, February 5, marks a shift from reacting to disasters after they occur to preventing them through better planning and coordination. City Hall says the Bill will be fast-tracked to the County Assembly for debate and approval.
Under the new framework, the county will establish a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, borough-based rapid response teams and a Nairobi Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (NADEMA) to oversee all rescue and mitigation efforts. Within 60 days of the law’s passage, the county will publish a detailed disaster preparedness plan, including a full inventory of emergency resources such as fire engines, ambulances, rescue boats and designated shelters across all boroughs.
The policy also requires regular citywide risk assessments, flood zone mapping, building safety inspections, community alert systems and mandatory emergency drills in public facilities. Governor Sakaja said the reforms are meant to ensure preventable tragedies no longer occur due to poor planning or delayed response.
The Bill further establishes a County Disaster Management Fund, supported by budget allocations, private sector contributions and donations. The fund will allow for rapid deployment of resources during emergencies. Once a state of disaster is declared, the governor will have limited emergency powers, including issuing evacuation orders and fast-tracking procurement, while remaining within constitutional and legislative limits.
City residents are expected to benefit from faster response times, stronger building and land-use enforcement, and improved public awareness on safety and disaster preparedness. The county says the goal is not only to respond better to emergencies but also to prevent them altogether.
The move follows a series of deadly incidents in recent years, including urban fires, flash floods and building collapses, which exposed serious weaknesses in Nairobi’s emergency response systems.
In 2025, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya criticised Sakaja’s administration over disaster handling, particularly after a fire in Tassia Estate. He questioned why the county failed to promptly assist victims and make use of the Disaster Management Fund, urging better accountability and faster support for affected residents.
