IoT-Enabled Community Response Systems in Kenyan Coastal Towns: An Evaluation

IoT-enabled community response systems are increasingly being implemented to enhance disaster preparedness and response in urban areas worldwide. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including pre- and post-intervention surveys, focus group discussions, and technical assessments of IoT devices deployed across six communities. Among the participants who used the system (35%), there was a significant improvement in response times to emergencies, with an average reduction of 20% compared to baseline periods. Technical reliability of the IoT devices was robust but showed occasional glitches requiring maintenance. The findings suggest that IoT systems can significantly enhance community resilience during disasters when integrated into existing emergency management frameworks. Communities and policymakers should invest in regular training for users, continuous device upgrades to prevent failures, and long-term monitoring of system performance to optimise outcomes. IoT, community response, disaster preparedness, Kenyan coastal towns Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.