| dc.description.abstract | Fire disasters are a common occurrence in the capital city of Kenya- Nairobi. The study was therefore set out to understand human response to fire occurrences at household and community levels in informal settlements in Nairobi- A case study of Mukuru slums.
Fires in the city's informal settlements are of increasing concern lately because of the frequency and destruction caused in their wake. It was absolutely clear that fires destroyed dwellings, property and impaired family and community livelihoods. It was 'also clear that whenever fires occurred, the government especiallythe Provincial Administration, Nairobi City Council, religious and other charitable organizations came in to mitigate. However what had not been explored fully and what this study intended to investigate further is how the informal settlement dwellers respond in the event of fires. (National Operations centre, UD)
The main objective of the research was to uncover human response to fire occurrencesat household and community levels in informal settlements. The specific objectives of the research included; finding out the level of preparedness at household levels, assessing people's response patterns in the event of fire, uncovering fire related precautions taken at house hold level and understanding the kind of prioritization specific dwellers have when salvaging their property.
The study was limited to factors that inform responses during fire breakouts; levels of prioritization when salvaging property; fire information and mitigation levels amongst dwellers; precautionary measures regarding fires taken at household levels; local methods used to fight the fire and other external responses.
The research adopted the risk society theory -towards a new modernity to enhance understanding on how prepared informal settlements were dealing with risks like fire occurrences. The coping theory was used as an indicator of various steps undertaken in response to the fire occurrence as they impact their destructive nature on people's livelihoods.
Questionnaires, key informant guides, observation and secondary sources were used in data collection. The study used simple descriptive statistics for data presentation and analysis. Descriptive statistics included the mode, median and frequency distribution tables. The mean and mode were used in explaining data compiled on the frequency distribution tables in terms of how the various
variables under study had affected the respondents concerning the subject under study. Qualitative data was divided into themes and sub-themes depending on
the objectives of the study.
Challenges including high illiteracy levels, suspicion and limited literature published on fire in general were experienced by the researcher.
Study findings revealed that fires in informal settlements are as a result of negligence, arson and malice resulting from carelessness when handling fire, drunkardness, poor electric installations and overloads, domestic quarrels and evictions at the whim of landlords and developers. Evictions by force are a regular occurrence.
The study uncovered that the Nairobi City fire Services are not an independent body and that they should be decentralized to carry out their operations as a unit or department. They currently operated under the city engineer as a sub-section of the many others he is in charge of. There was no fire act passed by act of parliament hence no policies which made the fire fighters have difficulty in discharging their duties.
In concluding and making recommendations, the fire department had to operate independently with trained personnel in the field of fire fighting. This action was to enable involve the community in fire fighting and response through trainings
to certain members of the community especially the youth.
There should be a fire act in the country approved by parliament. The Nairobi City Fires Services should be decentralized from within the city center and have fire stations at all district and divisional headquarters in Nairobi. The work of the fire services should be carried out at a departmental level of quick coordination rather than a sub section of another department. Activities of the city fire services were to be considered as a budget item for them to be able to offer trainings on fires to all the public members in the country as the need arises.
The government was to have a school that basically offered disaster management oriented courses. Fire fighting courses were to enhance the performance of the fire service department and exchange programmes and oversee straining be encouraged for comparativeness in response strategies. Communities had be involved in fire fighting directly through training and drills | en |
