By Correspondent
The County Government of Kisumu, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is implementing the Strengthening Urban Resilience to Emerging Disaster and Climate Risk Project.
The partnership will benefit the County Government of Kisumu’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) with cutting-edge tools for real-time risk analysis and mapping.
This includes the acquisition of a flood-mapping drone and 3D modelling software, which will significantly improve the County’s ability to monitor flood-prone zones, assess other potential hazards, and make timely, data-driven decisions for disaster preparedness and response.
The drone will also enable high-resolution mapping of critical infrastructure and vulnerable settlements, which will support risk-informed urban planning and sustainable city development.
The ongoing initiative was designed to enhance urban resilience in Kisumu by improving the city’s capacity for anticipation, preparedness, and response to emerging risks.
The initiative is being funded by the Governments of Denmark and South Korea, and the program runs until March 2026.
It targets cities in high-risk contexts, particularly those vulnerable to heatwaves, floods, environmental degradation, and conflict.
Through the program, the County Government of Kisumu is expected to benefit from contextualized and actionable risk information, improved governance systems and risk-informed urban planning, enhanced technical capacities and resources, as well as the deployment of innovation, digital technology, and nature-based solutions.
To ensure sustainability and local ownership, the project emphasizes capacity development, with five technical officers from the County Government already having undergone professional training to acquire the Remote Pilot Licence (RPL), a requirement under the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
The training was conducted by Drone Space, a KCAA-accredited firm, and involved classroom theory and on-site sessions.
The officers were selected based on their technical expertise and roles in disaster management, urban planning, and resilience building, and will form Kisumu’s first in-house drone mapping and risk analysis team.
Once certified, the officers will oversee continuous risk monitoring, data collection, and geospatial analysis, ensuring that urban resilience in Kisumu is anchored on local technical capacity and long-term sustainability.
“The integration of drone technology into our disaster management framework marks a turning point for Kisumu.
For the first time, we will have real-time visibility of risk-prone areas, enabling faster, evidence-based responses. This initiative will strengthen our ability to protect communities and ensure that resilience is built into every aspect of our city’s growth,” said the County Executive Member in charge of Disaster Risk Management, Salmon Orimba.
Mr. Raphael Mutitu, UNDP Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Specialist, said that UNDP’s collaboration with Kisumu County was part of their commitment to ensuring that innovation and technology serve people at the local level.
“By investing in tools, data, and capacity, we are building a foundation for sustained resilience where counties like Kisumu can anticipate risks before they escalate into disasters,” said Mutitu.
The introduction of drone mapping in Kenya’s urban resilience efforts marks a major milestone for Kisumu County.
It demonstrates how digital innovation, local capacity building, and strategic partnerships can strengthen city systems and safeguard lives and livelihoods.
By embedding data-driven approaches and technological innovation in disaster management, Kisumu City is paving the way for a safer, more resilient, and climate-smart urban future.
