MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CIVILIANS DURING DISASTERS

Introduction

Aid to civil authority is a key secondary mission of the Kenya Armed Forces (Armed Forces Act Cap.199).With it's resources,the Kenya Armed Forces has been instrumental in providing assistance to the goverment of kenya in persuant of national objectives.

Authority . The Kenya Armed Forces draws its authority to provide support to civil authority from section 3 (2) of the Kenya Armed Forces Act, Chapter 199 of the Laws of Kenya. This support transcends from security operations to socio-economic mitigation and/or development interventions

Goal . The goal of the national security is to assure and protect the nation's interests. These interests include more than the military Defence of the nation and its allies against external aggression. This is where and when the secondary role of the Armed Forces, ‘Aid to Civil Authority', is borne. Therefore, the goal of the Kenya Armed Forces is to provide and maintain an efficient, effective and coordinated support to national disaster management response effort.

 Objectives . The Kenya Armed Forces in aid to civil authority will seek to achieve the following objectives:

a. To mobilize appropriate resources for the required response.

b. To link up and coordinate with other stakeholders for the right response.

c. To augment other stakeholders' efforts in human and equipment resources.

THE SUPPORT

General . The support that the military can provide to the nation on non-military core functions varies. Effectiveness depends greatly on linkages, interfacing and coordination by a legal coordinating national institution. Generally the military is established and organized to provide such support in an “All-Hazards All-Risks Approach” concept falling into two broad categories:

a. Civil Military Operations.

b.Support to Civil Administration.

Areas of Actions . Specific areas in which the military assist the civil populace include: a.Drought and Desertification.

  1. Floods.
  2. Earthquakes and Tremors.
  3. Landslides.
  4. Civil Strife.
  5. Terrorism.
  6. Transport Accidents .
  7. Fires .
  8. Disease and Epidemics .
  9. Livestock/Wildlife Epidemics .
  10. Pest Infestation.
  11. Industrial/Maritime Hazards and Pollution.
  12. Structural Failures.

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