From Awareness To Action: Analyzing Environmental Attitudes And Humanitarian Response In Nairobi Metropolis
Grace Achieng Otieno
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) Kenya
Samuel Kimani Maina
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) Kenya
Abstract
As urban areas continue to expand, the frequency and complexity of urban flood incidents have risen worldwide. Recent events in various countries, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Pakistan, Scotland, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and several African cities, such as Accra, Kano, Kampala, Maputo, Bujumbura, and Nairobi, have illustrated the multifaceted challenges posed by urban flooding. In the Mavoko region and the broader Nairobi Metropolis, each rainy season witnesses rain-fed flooding, a phenomenon common to urban areas globally. Even moderate storms result in increased runoff and higher flood occurrences, aligning with global trends. In response to these challenges, governments worldwide, including Kenya, have implemented strategies to address environmental degradation and enhance emergency response and humanitarian support during urban and peri-urban flooding incidents. Various legal, institutional, and policy frameworks guide the management and coordination of emergency and humanitarian support. These efforts include strategic stockpiling of essential supplies by NGOs and private agencies. However, despite government initiatives promoting community participation and supporting local, community-driven disaster response efforts, individual household participation in humanitarian assistance for disaster victims in peri-urban settlements remains relatively low. This study explores the relationship between homeowners' environmental attitudes and their level of involvement in providing humanitarian support during flooding in the Mavoko peri-urban settlements of Nairobi Metropolis, Kenya