Influence of Early Warning Systems on Disaster Management in Public Senior Schools in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the influence of availability of early warning systems and disaster management in public senior schools in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. It was guided by Chaos Theory and adopted a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. The study targeted 234 public senior schools, 234 principals, 234 School Infrastructure Committees, six Sub-County Directors of Education, and six Quality Assurance and Standards Officers. A sample of 103 senior schools, 103 principals, 14 School Infrastructure Committee members, six Sub-County Directors, and six Quality Assurance and Standards Officers was selected using stratified, simple random, purposive, and census sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Findings established a statistically significant relationship between the availability of early warning systems and disaster management. The study recommended strengthening warning mechanisms, communication networks, emergency drills, staff training, and collaboration with relevant emergency agencies to enhance school preparedness and resilience.