EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN ENHANCING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
Keywords:
public–private partnerships, disaster preparedness, Nairobi County, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, urban resilienceAbstract
Purpose of study: This study examined the effectiveness of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in enhancing disaster preparedness in Nairobi County, Kenya (2019–2025), focusing on resource mobilisation, inter-sectoral collaboration, and implementation challenges within urban disaster management.
Methodology: A descriptive mixed-methods design was employed. Data were collected from 132 respondents via structured questionnaires, 15 key informant interviews, and four focus group discussions involving public officials, private firms, NGOs, and community members. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS (descriptive statistics), while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis, enabling triangulation of findings.
Findings: PPPs significantly improved resource mobilisation (M=4.34), technological innovation (M=4.26), early warning systems (M=4.21), logistics (M=4.17), and community awareness (M=4.10). Collaborative approaches reduced duplication (M=4.13) and improved response times (M=4.01). However, effectiveness was severely constrained by the absence of a formal policy framework (M=4.36), bureaucratic decision-making (M=4.22), mutual distrust between sectors (M=4.18), inadequate monitoring and evaluation (M=4.06), and insufficient financial incentives (M=3.89). Qualitative data revealed that partnerships remained largely ad hoc, episodic, and event-driven rather than institutionalised, with community members reporting exclusion from planning processes and coordination mechanisms described as poorly structured (M=3.78).
Conclusion: PPPs hold significant unrealised potential for disaster preparedness in Nairobi County. Structured formalisation through binding agreements, dedicated coordination units, incentive mechanisms, and trust-building measures is essential. Without addressing policy gaps and institutional weaknesses, PPPs will remain underperforming mechanisms for building urban disaster resilience.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20557129
References
Adelekan, I. O., & Adebayo, M. (2022). Urban flood risk management and public–private engagement in Nigeria. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 73, 102877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102877
Akintoye, A., Beck, M., & Hardcastle, C. (2015). Public–private partnerships: Managing risks and opportunities. Blackwell Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470690703
Alam, M., & Rahman, M. (2023). Public–private partnerships in flood disaster response capacity in Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 87, 103592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103592
Baruch, Y., & Holtom, B. C. (2008). Survey response rate levels and trends in organizational research. Human Relations, 61(8), 1139–1160. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726708094863
Bovaird, T. (2004). Public–private partnerships: From contested concepts to prevalent practice. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 70(2), 199–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020852304044250
Chisika, S. N., & Yeom, C. (2021). Enhancing sustainable management of public natural forests through public private partnerships in Kenya. SAGE Open, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211054490
Government of Kenya. (2023). National disaster risk management policy. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/kenya-national-disaster-risk-management-policy
Hodge, G. A., & Greve, C. (2007). Public–private partnerships: An international performance review. Public Administration Review, 67(3), 545–558. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00736.x
Ishiwatari, M., Kawakami, H., Sasaki, D., Sakamoto, A., & Nakayama, M. (2024). Enhancing Disaster Resilience for Sustainable Urban Development: Public–Private Partnerships in Japan. Sustainability, 16(9), 3586. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093586
Kapucu, N., & Garayev, V. (2011). Collaborative decision-making in emergency and disaster management. International Journal of Public Administration, 34(6), 366–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2011.561477
Kapucu, N., Hu, Q., & Khosa, S. (2023). Network governance in emergency management: Collaboration challenges. Public Administration Review, 83(2), 312–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13567
Kapucu, N., Hu, Q., & Khosa, S. (2023). Network governance in emergency management: Collaboration challenges. Public Administration Review, 83(2), 312–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13567
Nairobi City County Government. (2023). Nairobi City County disaster risk management strategy. https://nairobi.go.ke/
Ngechu, D., & Mutua, F. (2022). Institutional capacity building through public–private partnerships in Kenya's disaster management sector. African Development Review, 34(3), 290–305. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8268.12671
Nohrstedt, D., Parker, C. F., & Baird, J. (2022). Collaborative governance in crisis management. Policy Studies Journal, 50(3), 612–634. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12440
Springer, S. (2021). Governance and Public Administration During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Issues and Experiences in Kenya’s Health System. Politikon, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589346.2021.2008091
Osei-Kyei, R., Ameyaw, E. E., & Edwards, D. J. (2024). A global perspective on public–private partnership strategies for urban resilience improvement. Cities, 144, 104669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104669
Ouma, S., Mwangi, P., & Njoroge, C. (2024). Urban disaster governance and resilience challenges in Kenya. Natural Hazards Research, 4(1), 55–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2024.01.003
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2015). Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015–2030. https://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2020). Words into action: Engaging the private sector in disaster risk reduction. UNDRR. https://www.undrr.org/publication/words-action-engaging-private-sector-disaster-risk-reduction
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2022). Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction. https://www.undrr.org/gar2022
Waugh, W. L., & Streib, G. (2006). Collaboration and leadership for effective emergency management. Public Administration Review, 66(Suppl. 1), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00673.x
World Bank. (2023). Disaster risk management and resilience: Private sector engagement. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disasterriskmanagem
World Bank. (2023). Disaster risk management and resilience: Private sector engagement. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disasterriskmanagement
World Bank. (2023). Disaster risk management and resilience: Private sector engagement. World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disasterriskmanagement
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julius Asuma Kibagendi, Bernadette Sabuni, Dennis Mutua Ndambo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in this edition are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits users to read, download, copy, distribute, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original authors and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are clearly indicated.
