Meru county government is working on a disaster management policy to manage incidences and disasters in the county. Speaking to Meru Rising, director of Public Participation Angelo Kiogora said the policy will govern the response and co-ordination of disaster reduction in Meru County.

Currently the Meru county government provides resources to residents in the occurrence of disaster incidents through the office of the Deputy Governor and the Directorate of Public Participation where the County Emergency Fund is managed and invoked in case of crisis.

Kiogora said the policy will establish directives on the structure of the directorate, its objectives and also allocate the adequate resources among them equipment and human resource to ensure the county is primed to combat any kind of disaster or crises.

"Despite the challenges we have, we have been responding to disasters and disastrous incidences adequately in the county with the resources we have. When this bill passes, we will be more ready and prepared to serve the people of Meru County", he said. Kiogora added that efforts to engage the public in practicing safety training are underway as efforts to mitigate preventable incidences.

"A disaster is measured in terms of the populations’ ability to cope after an incident has occurred. The inability to cope is what translates into a disaster", he said. He added that Meru County has a very diverse climate hence the high chances of vulnerabilities such as fires, landslides, drought and others.

Kiogora also urged leaders not to politicize incidences that put lives of the people in danger and instead to think about response and management of saving lives.

The county has set up a 24 hour helpline for fire emergencies and is responding to the current drought by distributing relief food and seeds for planting.