admin_county
November 27, 2019
30 firefighters graduates from the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas to boost disaster management in Nakuru County.
30 firefighters have graduated from the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas in a program set to boost disaster management in Nakuru County.
The graduates went through rigorous four-week training on basic firefighting techniques, fully sponsored by the County Government.
According to Youth and Social Services CEC Eng Lucy Kariuki, the firefighters will be part of community disaster response teams set to be constituted in every sub-County.
“The idea to train our youth in disaster preparedness was born after we felt the need to have community response teams to act as first responders in case of a fire,” said Eng Kariuki.
She added that the program would also boost the readiness of the Nakuru municipality in disaster management as it is a requirement to become a city.
Eng Kariuki further enumerated other steps that the County is taking in disaster management including setting up an emergency kitty and formulation of the Disaster bill that is currently being reviewed at the County Assembly.
Other efforts include the purchase of ambulances, a fire engine and the ongoing construction of a Ksh 160 million fire station in Nakuru town.
However, the County Executive raised concern over the parking of loaded fuel trucks along the highways, asking the Kenya Pipeline Company to have designated parking zones for these trucks.
“The County Government has embarked on proper planning of town and urban centers to ensure access of the fire engine in the event of a fire.”
Hazard and risk mapping have also been done in the industrial area and commercial areas to assess imminent risks and ways of preventing disasters.
Director MIOG Jonah Aiyabei said the training will go a long way in empowering youth on how to fight fire disasters and save lives.
“We aim to fill the skills gap in disaster management through capacity building and we ask other counties to emulate Nakuru County and invest in disaster preparedness,” Mr. Aiyabei said.