After the devastating fire that tore through Mukungu Village in Kibra, leaving more than 300 families without homes and destroying property worth millions, the Government is stepping up its response with both compassion and action.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has been at the center of this effort. Just a day after the blaze, he was on the ground, walking through the ashes and twisted metal, speaking to affected families and seeing the destruction for himself. By Friday, he was back not with promises, but with tangible support.
Leading a relief effort at the Kibra Deputy County Commissioner’s office, CS Ruku delivered food, beddings, and dignity kits to ease the suffering of those displaced. “This is not just about aid,” he told residents. “It’s about standing together when it matters most. President William Ruto’s administration is committed to ensuring no Kenyan is left behind during moments of crisis.”
Backing his words with policy, CS Ruku reaffirmed the government’s intent to fully implement Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, a roadmap for a more coordinated and prepared national disaster response strategy. “This Executive Order isn’t just paperwork it’s a commitment from the President to the people,” he said.
But the government is also thinking long-term.
Recognizing that informal settlements are often hardest hit by disasters, CS Ruku highlighted ongoing affordable housing projects in Kibra, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, and Korogocho. “We want to replace vulnerability with resilience,” he said. “These new housing developments are designed to provide safer, more dignified living environments.”
The relief effort in Kibra was also marked by unity, as Nairobi Senator Karen Nyamu and Kibra MP Peter Ochieng joined CS Ruku in distributing aid signaling a unified approach to community recovery.
Under the new Executive Order, CS Ruku’s ministry carries a dual responsibility: responding to emergencies through the State Department for Special Programmes, and transforming public service through the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development.
Through the Special Programmes arm, the ministry coordinates everything from emergency food aid, shelter, and evacuation logistics, to disaster communication, early warning systems, and post-crisis rebuilding. This work is supported by strategic partners such as the National Youth Service (NYS).
Meanwhile, the ministry’s second mandate focuses on building a resilient and effective public sector. That includes managing Huduma Centres, the Kenya School of Government, NYS, internship programs, civil servant insurance, and even the mental health and counseling systems for public workers.
“Preparing for disasters is not just about supplies it’s about people. A responsive, well-trained public service is just as critical as food or shelter,” CS Ruku noted.
