Effectiveness of the Existing Regulatory Framework for Biosecurity Preparedness Atgarissa Level Five Hospital, Garissa County, Kenya

Biosecurity is an emerging global security threat in the 21st century affecting public health and natural security in equal measures. This study assessed the effectiveness of the existing biosecurity regulatory framework for biosecurity preparedness and response at Garissa Level Five Hospital, Garissa County, Kenya. The study was guided by protection motivation theory. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a target population of 202, divided into five strata on medical officers, clinical officers, nurses, laboratory staff and hospital administrators. Simple random sampling was thereafter used for each stratum to select a sample of 139 respondents. A questionnaire was the main tool for data collection and key informant interviews were used to corroborate the findings from the questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed using percentages and frequencies while qualitative data analyzed using thematic analysis. From the study findings, there were general health laws in Kenya including the Public Health Act, Biosecurity guidelines, 2014, Biosafety Act 2009, Biosafety Regulations 2011 and Health Amendment Act 2019. In addition, specific biosecurity laws were limited hence effectiveness and implementation of such laws was poor. The study recommends the enactment specific biosecurity laws and biosecurity guidelines be distributed to all health facilities.