By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
9 May 2026 - With support from the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP) II Garissa Township Municipality has unveiled a comprehensive climate disaster risk framework.
The multi-sectoral engagement brought together key government agencies, humanitarian organisations, technical experts, private sector actors, and community representatives to address the growing climate and disaster risks facing Garissa Municipality.
A comprehensive stakeholder engagement process aimed at developing a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy, Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Climate Risk Profile, and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Framework for Urban Infrastructure.
The joint report from the stakeholders emphasised that Garissa continues to face a complex combination of climate-related threats, including riverine and flash floods, prolonged droughts, extreme heat, water scarcity, ecosystem degradation, and climate-sensitive disease outbreaks.
These risks, the stakeholders noted, are further worsened by rapid urbanization, weak land-use enforcement, inadequate drainage systems, and limited integration of climate information into planning processes.
Technical agencies including the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) played a critical role in shaping the municipality’s climate risk profile by providing expertise on drought monitoring, early warning systems, weather forecasting, and hazard assessment.
Their contributions in the report highlighted the importance of integrating real-time climate data into urban planning to support anticipatory action and improve disaster preparedness.
Environmental and conservation institutions such as the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the Garissa Million Trees Foundation advocated for Nature-Based Solutions as sustainable approaches to climate adaptation and urban resilience.
Related articles
Proposed interventions include urban greening, wetland restoration, riparian protection, agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable drainage systems aimed at reducing flood risks, restoring ecosystems, improving water security, and lowering urban heat stress.
Stakeholders also underscored the importance of inclusive participation in climate resilience planning. Youth groups, women, persons with disabilities, farmers, and local business communities were actively engaged to ensure local knowledge and lived experiences inform planning and implementation processes.
According to the framework, mainstreaming climate resilience and disaster risk reduction into urban planning will help Garissa Municipality minimize future risks while addressing existing vulnerabilities.
The municipality also plans to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems through measurable indicators focused on flood reduction, ecosystem restoration, infrastructure resilience, water security, early warning coverage, and social inclusion.
Officials said the integrated framework provides a clear roadmap for transforming Garissa into a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable, and disaster-prepared municipality capable of safeguarding livelihoods, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems amid increasing climate pressures.
The initiative is being implemented under the Kenya Urban Support Programme II in collaboration with Garissa Township Municipality as part of broader efforts to enhance sustainable urban development and resilience across Kenyan municipalities, the programme is being supported by the World Bank.