| dc.description.abstract | Each year people die or are seriously injured as a result of fires at work. Besides loss of life, fire
costs Kenya millions of shillings from damage of property, loss of business, fire compensation
and insurance premiums. Many of these fires can be avoided by taking fire precautions. If a fire
breaks out a lot of the effects can be minimised by having effective controls and procedures in
place. Statistics fromNyeri Fire Department show that a hundred and twelve (112) fire outbreaks
have been experienced in Nyeri Municipality between the years 2011 and 2012. Fifty one per
cent of these fires have occurred in buildings within Nyeri Central Business District (Nyeri Fire
Department). The property destruction between January 2011 and January 2012 is estimated at
thirtyseven (37) million shillings. Eleven people have also lost their liveswithin the same period
of time. A disconnect however exists between the frequency and magnitude of the fire outbreaks
inurban centresand thelevel of preparedness. Thistherefore hasled tothe need of undertakinga
study to make an assessment of the factors influencing fire disaster preparedness in the Nyeri
Central Business District. Specifically the study assessed how independent variables like level of
fire safety awareness, value of investment, nature of investment and municipal fire preparedness
bylaws influence fire disaster preparedness which is the dependent variable. The purpose of the
study is to establish the factors that influence fire disaster preparedness in the Central Business
District of Nyeri Town. The objectives were to establish how fire safety awareness, value of
investment, municipal fire preparedness bylaws and nature of investment influence fire disaster
preparedness. The study used descriptive survey design. Probability sampling procedure was
applied. It was carried out on one hundred and seventy two [172] tenants and fifty three [53]
landlord/ladies who were selected through stratified random sampling method. This gave a total
of two hundred and twenty five [225] respondents. Questionnaires with both closed and open
ended questions were used in the collection of data. The findings were then edited, coded,
classified and analysed using descriptive statistics then presented with the use of tables. The
studyfound that the level of fire safetyawareness is verylow and the municipal council does not
inspect compliance with fire disaster preparedness bylaws. The study recommended that The
Nyeri Municipal Council should organise training for the Nyeri residents and also ensure regular
inspection on compliance with firedisaster preparedness. | en |
