Kenya Urges Africa Search and Rescue Cooperation
Kenya called for international partnerships, including with China, to strengthen search and rescue capabilities across Africa after a regional conference in Mombasa.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Emergency Response
Kenya called for international cooperation with partners including China to strengthen Africa's search and rescue capabilities. The call followed the International Conference on Strengthening Search and Rescue Services in the African Region, which concluded in Mombasa, Kenya, on Friday.
Why it matters
Kenya lacks specialized rescue equipment that meets international standards and lacks adequate funding for training and equipment procurement. Recent flooding that killed at least 174 people between October and December 2023 underscores the need for stronger rescue capacity.
The Kenya Red Cross bought 50 specialized rescue boats from China in September, and 23 Red Cross personnel and seven Kenya Defence Forces members completed search and rescue training from a Chinese team. Some people reported missing during the October to December 2023 floods have still not been found.
The players
Blue Sky Rescue
A Chinese nongovernmental emergency rescue organization that trains rescue teams and provides search equipment abroad.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The UN body that coordinates international humanitarian response and co-organized the Mombasa conference with the Kenyan government.
Kenya Red Cross Society
Kenya's national Red Cross branch, which purchased rescue boats from China and received search and rescue training.
The details
Blue Sky Rescue, a Chinese nongovernmental emergency rescue organization, sent a six-member delegation to the conference and signed an emergency assistance cooperation agreement with Sierra Leone's National Disaster Management Agency. The organization also donated a Chinese-made drone to support search operations in Sierra Leone, and its members used specialized search equipment at a multistory building collapse scene in Nairobi last month.
Timeline
October to December 2023: Floods in Kenya killed at least 174 people.
July of last year: Ochieng completed a two-week urban search and rescue training in China.
September: The Kenya Red Cross Society purchased 50 specialized rescue boats from China.
Last month: Blue Sky Rescue members used search equipment at a Nairobi building collapse.
Friday: The Mombasa search and rescue conference concluded.
Emergency Response
The push for stronger African rescue capacity follows the 2023 Kenya floods, which killed at least 174 people and exposed gaps in specialized equipment and training. Kenya's current reliance on Chinese-supplied boats and training marks a shift toward external partners for emergency response capability.
Residents in flood-prone areas should follow official evacuation instructions and keep emergency contacts on hand. Organizations planning rescue training or equipment purchases can coordinate with national disaster agencies to align with recognized standards.
The takeaway
Building rescue capacity before disasters strike depends on consistent funding and equipment that meets international standards. Partnerships across borders can fill gaps, but local training and procurement determine how quickly teams can respond.
What happens next
Blue Sky Rescue plans a second round of training in Kenya before the end of this year, focusing mainly on water rescue.
Further reading
For more on how rescue teams respond to disasters, see Emergency Response coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by China Daily.
