The State Department for Correctional Services has developed a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan to deal with possible adverse effects of the anticipated El Niño conditions.
The plan, which includes the establishment of technical teams, is expected to provide robust frameworks for all managers of correctional facilities, staff, and offenders who may be exposed to flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage, disruption of essential services, and other climate-related hazards.
Speaking during a meeting with senior officers drawn from the department, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said there was a need to move beyond a reactive approach and put in place a coordinated, risk-informed, and institution-wide preparedness framework.
The technical teams will be expected to conduct predictive analytics, categorize correctional facilities based on perceived risks, provide preparedness and response mechanisms, and establish structures for coordination with external agencies.
This will include the development of a risk map identifying high-risk correctional facilities and offices, identifying facility-specific vulnerability profiles for high-risk locations, structural/infrastructure assessment of vulnerable facilities, and emergency preparedness and response plans for high-risk facilities.
Other measures are the establishment of an emergency contact and escalation matrix for the department, assessment of food, water, medical, and other essential reserves, early-warning and reporting mechanisms linking headquarters with facilities, and priority mitigation and rehabilitation requirements.
“I Urge the technical teams to work collaboratively, share information promptly and ensure that identified vulnerabilities translate into concrete preparedness actions,” said the PS.
According to the PS, the anticipated El Niño conditions should be approached as an opportunity to strengthen the State Department’s broader disaster-risk management, climate resilience and business-continuity systems.
Speaking at the forum, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh said the Kenya Prisons Service has already identified and mapped at-risk and vulnerable stations with an emergency operation centre based at the KPS headquarters expected to coordinate command centres spread across the country and align its response with the National Disaster Operations Centre.
The meeting was also attended by Probation and Aftercare Service Secretary Shadrack Kavutai who said offenders within the country’s correctional facilities remain at the highest risk of weather extremes based on their vulnerabilities.
The government has classified the heavy rainfall threat with high alert for proactive public safety coordination arising from the forecasted El Niño conditions, rolling out a flood-mitigation programme which includes mobilizing multi-agency national and county teams to prepare for possible adverse effects.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
