Level of Awareness on the Disaster Risk Reduction Policies in Informal Settlements of Nyeri Town, Nyeri County, Kenya

Purpose: This study investigates the level of awareness on disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies in the informal settlements of Nyeri Town, Kenya. It explores community perceptions, awareness levels, and compliance with DRR policies, analyzing how demographic factors influence these aspects. The study also explores policy compliance, finding correlations with occupation and area of residence, particularly among self-employed individuals. The research underscores the critical role of local government, community involvement, and multi-level governance in fostering disaster resilience. Materials and Methods: The study adopted a descriptive research design using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire. The population for this study was 384 respondents of the four settlements of Nyeri Town, which is, Majengo, Witemere, Ngangarithi, Mathari, and Ruring’u Muslim Village. Findings: The study revealed that 50.3% of residents from informal settlements in Nyeri Town complied with policy rules related to disaster risk reduction, while 49.7% did not comply. The findings indicate a statistically significant association between the level of compliance and the area of residence. Specifically, residents in Ngangarithi informal settlement exhibited a higher level of compliance (62.5%) compared to residents in other informal settlements. Furthermore, the study found a statistically significant association between occupation and the level of compliance. Specifically, self-employed individuals demonstrated a higher level of compliance (55.5%) compared to individuals in other occupations. This suggests that self-employed individuals may have a greater understanding of the risks associated with non-compliance and a higher level of autonomy to implement preventive measures. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on these findings, the following recommendations were proposed, the study recommends that the County Government of Nyeri to review and implement a disaster management policy, develop a risk management programme, and vital records management programme ,the County Government of Nyeri to implement comprehensive policies which are flexible, implementable and cost effective and make sure these policies are reviewed regularly to reflect the current trends in management of disasters and the County Government of Nyeri to establish an awareness campaign of the available policies in these areas through collaborations with community leaders, religious groups, and local influencers which will help convey DRR information effectively.