Every year, thousands of people in developing countries fall prey to natural disasters. The resultant damage heavily strains their economies and sets back their development. In Kenya, massive water in-flows emanating from River Nzoia annually burst their banks and lead to loss of lives; displacement of people; disease outbreak and destruction of physical infrastructure in Budalangi division, north of Lake Victoria, near the Kenya-Uganda border.

Whereas philanthropic efforts from the government and humanitarian organizations such as The Red Cross are laudable, the fact that their intervention has not worked for the last ten years is a manifestation of gross irresponsibility, lack of clear thinking and constrained vision.

There is urgent need to form coordinated partnerships between the government, private sector and business with a view of mitigating disaster. Partnerships with a clear vision and relevant core competencies in prevention, preparedness, relief and long term recovery efforts in such areas as construction, logistics and transport, engineering, healthcare, water and sanitation will prove handy in disaster alleviation. Business is good at mobilizing, organizing, creativity and expertise. The insurance industry along with the financial sector ought to develop innovative products – risk maps, catastrophe bonds and weather derivatives among others, for individuals, local businesses, communities and humanitarian organizations.

Above all, providing a conducive environment for wealth creation will enable people in disaster prone areas to create wealth, thereby being able to choose either to change their current abode or use their wealth to curb disasters. Hiding under the ‘Act of God’ only condemns disaster victims into perpetual objects of pity and catchments for foreign aid.