NGPU July 31, 2024

Nakuru City and Tomorrow Cities Partner to Combat Natural Disasters

Written by Nabwire Naholi

Nakuru City has partnered with a UK-based organization, Tomorrow Cities, to enhance its resilience against natural disasters. This collaboration addresses the pressing issues of floods and fire outbreaks, which the city is vulnerable to.

The teams engaged in a virtual meeting to discuss Nakuru’s vulnerability to disasters and shared best practices. The Tomorrow Cities Team provided valuable insights from their international experience to help shape effective strategies in the City.

The City Manager Mr. Gitau Thabanja highlighted Nakuru’s current challenges, including extreme floods, landslides, inadequate infrastructure, and rapid urbanization. He identified key areas for strategic interventions to reduce disaster risks.

Among them were developing a detailed geological survey of the city, strengthening the capacity of the city’s technical team through skills and knowledge training, civic education and community engagement, and developing a stormwater master plan.

Mr Thabanja expressed gratitude for the support and welcomed the partnership, emphasizing that the collaboration will greatly improve disaster management and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.

The Tomorrow Cities Team is dedicated to ongoing engagement and ensuring the success of these initiatives. Their commitment to Nakuru’s development marks a significant step towards creating a safer and more resilient city.

The meeting yielded fruitful deliberations, with both teams committing to translate these discussions into tangible outcomes for Nakuru.

This collaboration has set a precedence for international cooperation in disaster risk management, showcasing the power of global partnerships in addressing local challenges.