Assessment Of Households’ Vulnerability To Flood And Drought Risk In Garashi Ward, Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

Over the past five years, the coastal parts of Kenya have experienced a combination of extreme droughts and flood incidences. This has left a huge negative effect with regards to the social, financial, health, and ecological well-being of the affected population. To successfully manage possible risks of natural hazards occurring in an area, it is necessary to understand how vulnerability is generated, how it builds up and how it intensifies. The aim of this study was to assess the vulnerability of rural households to floods and droughts risks using Garashi Ward in Kilifi County as a case study. Data were collected from a stratified random sample of 96 households from Mikuyuni, Masindeni and Singwaya administrative units of Garashi Ward. The methods employed to collect data include a household survey questionnaire, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and from relevant secondary data and publications. Findings revealed that the study area is highly vulnerable to floods and drought risks. This is depicted by the flood and drought vulnerability index value of 0.82 and 0.81, respectively. Furthermore, the area is more sensitive to floods and droughts compared to exposure and capacity, since the sensitivity index value for both hazards is 1. This value denotes the highest level of vulnerability to hazards. Generally, the effect of floods and droughts on households in Garashi area will worsen if sustainable multi-sectoral interventions are not put in place to prepare and mitigate the vulnerability of these households to natural disasters. The study recommends that the national and county government should invest in disaster preparedness to achieve effective disaster risk reduction in disaster-prone areas. This includes conducting risk and vulnerability assessments at national, community and household levels. Consequently, the government should build the capacity of all stakeholders in the vulnerable regions focusing on sustainable strategies for coping with droughts and floods. Lastly, future researchers should adopt an inductive and participatory approaches to assess vulnerability.