Thesis:

Investigating the influence of board of management practices On mitigating disaster in schools in Wajir west sub County, Kenya.

This study investigated the influence of Board of Management (BoM) practices on mitigating disasters in schools in Wajir West Sub-County, Kenya. The study was motivated by the increasing frequency of disasters, including fires, floods, and security threats, which have posed significant risks to students and staff. Despite the existence of disaster management policies, schools continued to face challenges in preparedness and response, necessitating an examination of the role played by BoM practices in disaster mitigation. The study aimed to achieve the following objectives: To examine the influence of infrastructure development in mitigating disasters in schools in Wajir west subcounty, Kenya: To analyze the effectiveness of safety policies in mitigating disasters in schools in Wajir west subcounty, Kenya. To assess the influence of staff and student training in mitigating disasters in schools in Wajir west subcounty, Kenya; To evaluate the effect of collaboration between schools and external stakeholders in mitigating disasters in schools in Wajir west subcounty, Kenya .The study was anchored on the Contingency Theory; Systems theory; Human capital theory and Stakeholder theory which provided a framework for understanding disaster management within school governance structures. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting public schools in Wajir West Sub-County. A sample of 134 school board members, administrators, and teachers was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires while secondary data were obtained from policy documents and reports. The data collection process involved administering questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that proactive disaster preparedness planning by the BoM significantly reduced risks in schools. Stakeholder engagement improved disaster awareness and preparedness. Correlation and regression analyses indicated a strong positive relationship between BoM practices and effective disaster mitigation The study concluded that the effectiveness of disaster management in schools depended on the strategic involvement of BoMs in infrastructural development, safety policies,training for teachers and students as well as collaboration with external stakeholders. It recommended that BoMs receive continuous training on disaster management, schools establish clear disaster response frameworks, and the government provide necessary support to enhance preparedness.