Muhoho D. Maina2025-02-252025-02-252024-09https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29644A Research Thesis Submitted to the School of Education in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement of the Degree of Master of Education (Educational Administration) of Kenyatta University September, 2024 Supervisors: 1.Daniel Otieno 2.Thaddaaeus RugahSchool safety is paramount for effective learning to take place. Schools all over the world have established ways of mitigating disasters. The mitigation measures aims at reducing or preventing loss of lives, destruction of property and emotional torture to victims. However, the question remains: how efficient are these safety strategies in keeping school children secure from disasters? The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of mitigation strategies in disaster prevalence in public secondary schools in Yatta Sub-County Machakos County, Kenya. The objectives of this study were to: Determine the influence of stakeholder awareness on disaster prevalence, Establish the influence of frequency disaster drills on disaster prevalence, Determine influence of duration of response on disaster related deaths and loss of property and, Examine the influence of adequacy of financial allocation for disaster prevention on disaster prevalence in Yatta Sub County public secondary schools, Machakos county Kenya. This study was guided by Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The study adopted descriptive survey design. Target population comprised of all the 61 public secondary schools in Yatta Sub-County of Machakos County. Through stratified sampling method 20 public secondary schools were sampled. One sub-county director of education, 20 principals, 4 teachers and 5 students from each school were selected using purposive sampling method. Instruments for data collection were questionnaires, interviews schedules and observation checklist. Pilot study was conducted in two schools which were not included in the main study. Data collection was done through questionnaires which were hand-delivered; face to face interviews and direct use of observation checklists. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including mode, mean, median and percentages while Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Data was presented in tables, and figures. The research revealed that stakeholders awareness influence prevalence of disasters. Stakeholder awareness on various disasters made it easy for them to fight disasters hence reduced the number of casualties. Inadequate finances affected prevalence of disasters. Poor implementation of disaster policies influenced disaster prevalence. Early and quick responsiveness to disasters eased management of disasters. The study revealed that most of the students and teachers had not attended disaster management drills hence they could not fight disasters adequately. Some schools had inadequate facilities and equipment’s. The study recommended that MOE should create awareness of various disasters in learning institutions and also make resources available; principals should ensure disaster mitigation policies are implemented, MOE to ensure that all stakeholders are trained on disaster, more funds should be set aside for disaster management xvi and regular inspection of schools and disaster management should be integrated in the school curriculum.enThesis