Lessons from Japan on managing disaster
What you need to know:
- The importance of the President’s visit cannot be overemphasised as this is the first time he is visiting Japan since he assumed office.
- We recently handed over to the government the first phase of the Olkaria geothermal power station and came to an agreement on the second phase of the Mombasa port development plan.
- Japan has suffered several devastating natural disasters. Earthquakes and typhoons have struck the country, wreaking massive destruction. Yet, this pain and suffering have made us stronger and helped us to build Japan’s trademark of “quality infrastructure”.
Between 14 and 18 March, Japan will host the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai. Sendai bore the brunt of the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami that devastated a large swath of east Japan on 11 March, 2011.
For the people of Japan, the horrendous earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 18,000 people is not a thing of the past. Four years after the disaster, although the scars of the earthquake still remain, I am glad to report that Japan has emerged stronger and more united.
In memory of those who perished in the earthquake, Japan stands firm with the international community to make the world better prepared and more resilient against disasters.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will travel to Japan to share his thoughts on disaster risk reduction with leaders from all over the world. The importance of the President’s visit cannot be overemphasised as this is the first time he is visiting Japan since he assumed office.
Most importantly, President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to have their first bilateral meeting since they became the leaders of their respective countries. The bilateral meeting will herald a new phase in the 50 years of cordial relations between the two countries.
BIGGEST RECIPIENT
Japan greatly values its bilateral relationship with Kenya. As I have mentioned in the past, Kenya is the biggest recipient of Japan’s official development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa.
Firmly believing in Kenya’s potential to be the most developed state in Africa, Japan has supported a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, water supply and sanitation, health and medical care, education, and environmental preservation.
However, lack of appropriate infrastructure has been the bottleneck to unlocking the full potential of Kenya as the region’s economic powerhouse. Fully understanding the challenges that Kenya faces, Japan has stood with the country’s people in infrastructure development.
We recently handed over to the government the first phase of the Olkaria geothermal power station and came to an agreement on the second phase of the Mombasa port development plan.
By incorporating Japan’s advanced technology, the projects will improve the lives of millions of Kenyans. The underlying theme of these projects is for the mutual benefit of the Japan-Kenya relationship. It is our hope that the two leaders will discuss how this can be enhanced while at the same time working together to accelerate economic growth and poverty reduction in Kenya.
Japan has suffered several devastating natural disasters. Earthquakes and typhoons have struck the country, wreaking massive destruction. Yet, this pain and suffering have made us stronger and helped us to build Japan’s trademark of “quality infrastructure”.
One example is Shinkansen, or the bullet-train, which can go up to speeds of 320km per hour, but with no passenger fatalities for the past 50 years. Quality infrastructure will, in the long run, serve the interests of Kenyans because Japanese-managed projects last long.
It is our hope that during his visit to Japan, President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Abe will set the course so that Japan’s quality infrastructure can benefit the people of Kenya and bring about greater prosperity.
Tatsushi Terada is the Japanese ambassador to Kenya
