Emergency Preparedness and Transport Safety Standards as Predictors of Well-Being among Public Secondary School Communities in West Pokot County, Kenya

Emergency preparedness and transport safety are critical dimensions of school safety that protect learners, ensure continuity of education, and promote the well-being of school communities. Despite the existence of national school safety policies in Kenya, implementation of these standards remains inconsistent, particularly in geographically marginalized counties where environmental, infrastructural, and resource constraints heighten learners' exposure to safety risks. This study examined the influence of emergency preparedness and transport safety standards on the well-being of public secondary school communities in West Pokot County, Kenya. Guided by the Health Belief Model, the study adopted a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently from a sample of 586 respondents comprising principals, members of Boards of Management, County and Sub-County education officials, Quality Assurance and Standards Officers, and National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) education committee members using questionnaires, interviews, observation checklists, and document analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically and integrated during interpretation. The findings revealed that emergency preparedness safety standards significantly enhanced school community well-being through improved emergency planning, disaster preparedness, first-aid readiness, and institutional response mechanisms. Transport safety standards also had a significant positive influence by promoting safer travel to and from school, although implementation was constrained by poor road infrastructure, long travel distances, and inadequate transport facilities. Qualitative findings reinforced the quantitative results by emphasizing the importance of continuous safety training, stakeholder collaboration, and regular monitoring in strengthening school safety. The study concludes that sustained investment in emergency preparedness and transport safety is essential for enhancing the physical, psychological, and social well-being of public secondary school communities in West Pokot County. The findings provide context-specific evidence to inform school safety policy implementation, institutional planning, and resource allocation in West Pokot County and other settings with similar characteristics.

Emergency preparedness; transport safety; school safety standards; school community well-being; public secondary schools; West Pokot County; Kenya.

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