Authors: Martin Muthukia1, Moses Akali2 and Cliff Ooga3
1,2&3National Defence University
P.O. Box 24381- 00502, Nairobi, Kenya
Co. Author Email: martin.maina@ipstc.org
Abstract: Recurrent flooding in Kenya’s Tana River County has disrupted schooling, damaged school infrastructure and affected the ability of schools to deliver teaching and learning. There are policy frameworks on national disaster risk reduction and education in emergencies. However, there are still significant gaps in the operationalisation of school-based flood preparedness and converting this to sustained educational resilience. The study aimed to assess the preparedness of basic education systems for flood hazards in Tana River County, Kenya. The investigation was founded on Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems Theory. The study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, multistage and simple random sampling. The target population comprised 1,219 teachers in Tana River County. Using Yamane’s formula, the study arrived at a sample size of 301 teachers. Data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in RStudio, alongside thematic analysis for qualitative data. The study found that basic education systems had relatively low levels of flood hazard preparedness, M = 2.65, SD = 1.27, and preparedness differed based on person characteristics; gender t (248.84) = 3.99, p < .001, age, F (4, 296) = 5.331, p < .001, and, teaching experience F (4, 296) = 6.061, p < .001 significantly influenced preparedness. The study concluded that strengthening school level flood preparedness requires greater emphasis on operational planning, teacher training, regular simulation drills, and institutional support.
Keywords: Flood hazard preparedness, Basic education systems, Bioecological Systems Theory, Tana River County
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Muthukia, M., Akali, M. and Obwogi, C.O. (2026). Flood Hazard Preparedness of Basic Education Systems: A Case of Tana River County, Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 13(2), 101-119. Available at https://arjess.org/social-sciences-research/flood-hazard-preparedness-of-basic-education-systems-a-case-of-tana-river-county-kenya.pdf