Kenya launches its Disaster Risk Financing Strategy 2026–2030
Nairobi, Kenya – Wednesday 24 June 2026 – The National Treasury has launched Kenya’s Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) Strategy 2026–2030, marking a decisive step forward in strengthening the country’s ability to protect lives, livelihoods, and development gains from the impacts of disasters.
The new Strategy, developed with technical support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), provides a comprehensive framework to strengthen financial resilience through a shift from reactive, crisis-driven financing to proactive, risk-informed financial preparedness through 2030. The central objective of the strategy is to enhance the financial capacity of national and county governments to effectively manage disaster risks along the disaster risk management (DRM) continuum.
"The true test of resilience is not how we respond after a disaster occurs, but how well we prepare before it happens. This Strategy provides Kenya with a robust financial framework to anticipate, absorb and recover from disasters while protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and sustaining our economic progress," said Ronald Inyangala, OGW, Director, Financial and Sectoral Affairs at the National Treasury, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary.
Kenya’s leadership in disaster risk reduction comes at a time when the country faces increasing climate-related challenges. Over recent decades, droughts and floods have severely impacted communities, particularly in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions. In 2024, the March–April–May floods affected around 410,000 people, claimed 315 lives, and caused damage amounting to 187 billion Kenyan Shillings¹.
Building on lessons from the DRF Strategy 2018–2022, this updated Strategy expands beyond risk retention and risk transfer to incorporate investments for risk reduction. It is cross-cutting in nature, designed to be multi-hazard and multi-sector, and encompasses gender equality and social inclusion. The Strategy complements the Disaster Risk Management Strategy 2025–2030, which established a long-term framework for reducing disaster risks and strengthening resilience across Kenya.
Support in developing the Strategy began when UNDRR equipped the National Treasury with disaster risk financing tools from the Global Education and Training Institute (GETI). This included introducing the National Treasury to UNDRR's five-step DRR financing tool, which provides guidance for establishing national financing systems for DRR, and mobilizing DRR financing from different sources (i.e., public, private, and international). UNDRR also supported the National Treasury in developing a disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation budget tagging (DCBT) system, which helped Kenya strengthen its ability to track and allocate resources for resilience.
At every stage of the Strategy’s development, an Inter-Agency Taskforce reviewed progress and guided revisions. Targeted consultations with civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, construction practitioners, the private sector, and development partners have ensured that the strategy reflects broad stakeholder consensus.
The Strategy was developed through a phased, consultative process from 2025 to 2026. It involved collaborating with multiple partner organisations, with support provided by UNDRR. Other partners involved were the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Government of Italy, in addition to long-standing support from the World Bank Group and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Looking ahead, UNDRR plans to offer continued support to Kenya’s institutional DRM capacity, including by advancing its cost–benefit analysis of DRR investments. This work will ensure that future investments are evidence-based, economically sound, and aligned with national priorities.
"We must strengthen risk data and analytics to guide financial planning. Good financing decisions depend on good information, on understanding where risks lie, how they evolve, and what they will cost,” said Amjad Abbashar, Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa.
In parallel with the Strategy, the President of Kenya signed into law the National Disaster Risk Management Act 2026 in May 2026. The Act provides a legal foundation for disaster governance in Kenya. It establishes the National Disaster Risk Management Authority and County Disaster Risk Management Committees, tasked with coordinating response, issuing early warnings, and ensuring that resources reach affected communities in a timely manner. Further strengthening the fiscal systems in Kenya, the Division of Revenue Act, 2026. defines how resources are shared between national and county governments and enables counties to finance critical services, including DRM.
The launch of the Strategy, alongside these legislative achievements, reflects Kenya’s strong national commitment to resilience, fiscal stability, and inclusive protection for all residents. It also positions the country as a leader in advancing innovative approaches to disaster risk management in Africa, ensuring that individuals and institutions are empowered to anticipate and respond to disasters before they occur.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Adair Ackley, Regional Office for Africa