Nakuru County’s ability to respond to fires is facing scrutiny, with the County Assembly’s Committee on Disaster Management pushing for fully equipped fire stations in every sub-county.
The push follows a petition by Nakuru resident Alvin Njoroge Kamau, who raised concerns over the county’s response to fires affecting markets, schools and homes.
Kamau told the Assembly that delayed response to emergencies was contributing to the loss of lives and destruction of property worth millions of shillings.
One of the concerns raised is the distance fire engines sometimes have to cover before reaching areas affected by fires.
In an emergency, the time spent travelling can determine whether a fire is contained early or spreads to nearby homes, businesses and public facilities.
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A fire station in every sub-county?
Kamau is calling on the County Executive to establish fire stations in every sub-county, with modern firefighting equipment and trained personnel.
The proposal would bring emergency response services closer to communities, particularly in areas where residents currently have to depend on fire engines stationed farther away.
Beyond infrastructure, the petition is also seeking a countywide fire emergency response policy to guide how the county prepares for and responds to fire incidents.
Such a framework would set out responsibilities, response procedures and the resources required to deal with emergencies across Nakuru.
Funding and staffing remain key
The petition also puts funding at the centre of the debate.
Kamau wants the county to provide adequate resources for firefighting, including the recruitment and training of personnel and provision of the equipment needed to respond to emergencies.
Having additional fire stations without enough trained firefighters, functioning vehicles and equipment would do little to solve the problem.
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The petition therefore raises a wider question about whether Nakuru’s disaster management budget matches the risks faced by a growing county with busy markets, schools, residential areas and other public facilities.
The Committee on Disaster Management, chaired by Mauche MCA Moses Koros, resolved to engage the County Executive Committee Member responsible for Disaster Management on the current state of firefighting infrastructure in the county.
The engagement is expected to provide a clearer picture of where fire stations are located, what equipment is available, the number of personnel deployed and whether existing facilities are adequately equipped to respond to emergencies.
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