Nyeri launches network of 200 anti-terrorism first aiders

The Nyeri government has launched a network of first aiders to help in case of a terror attack.

The network of 200 members spread across the county will initially be coordinated at the county and subcounty levels.

They will use a booklet titled, 'Referral Guidelines for Survivors of Violent Extremism'.

Nyeri is the first county in the country to form such a network as well as prepare and publish guidelines.

Psychological first aid is an acute intervention to help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, terror attack or emergencies to minimise initial distress as a result of traumatic events and foster short-term and long-term adaptive function and coping.

Nyeri Deputy Governor David Kinaniri on Wednesday termed the training of PFA providers and the formation of the network as crucial.

“The training you have received is very crucial in helping those traumatised in case of an attack, disaster or emergency,” he said.

He called on the PFA to ensure they cascade the knowledge gained down to community members who may be unaware of how to react in case of an attack.

Nyeri Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Mwangi termed the move as a great stride and attributed the success to the cordial working relationship between Nyeri county and the national government.

He said when a terrorist attack happens, there are always victims who need psychosocial support and commended PFA providers for volunteering to offer services.

Foundation For Dialogue programme director Michael Mugo said the network will be self-coordinated and will offer its services when need arises.

“These are members of the community who are able and ready to offer PFA as part of the process to enhance healing and coping,” Mugo said.

 Plans to prepare the booklet started after the Mandera quarry and bus terror attacks in 2014 that left more than a dozen of Nyeri residents dead.

Some residents had moved out to the county in search of greener pastures when terrorists struck.

The traumatized survivors received no immediate intervention and had to heal naturally.

“We did a survey together with the National Counter Terrorism Centre and realised that all the survivors had either healed naturally, moved to other counties or went back to Mandera,” Mugo said.

As a result, a plan was born to train community members on how to respond in case of a terror attack or if survivors are traumatised.

Psychosocial pillar members were trained on PFA before the training of community members identified by national government administrative officials (NGAOs).

Those targeted for PFA training included chiefs and their assistants, Community Health Promoters, village elders, Nyumba Kumi and community policing officials.

These are groups that do other community jobs and the supposition is there will always be someone nearby who can respond to a community need requiring PFA.

The Referral Guidelines booklet was prepared by members of the pillar with guidance from FFD officials.

Psychosocial Pillar is one of the pillars of the Nyeri County Engagement Forum that implements a devolved national strategy on countering violent extremism through the County Action Plan.

The CEF is co-chaired by the governor and the county commissioner.

Other pillars are Education, Economic, Law Enforcement, Political and Ideological and Media and Online.

The program was supported by Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund through Act Change Transform’s Accelerated Response Initiative against Violent Extremism (ARIVE) project, National Counter Terrorism Centre and FFD.

The Psychosocial Pillar head Gamaliel Gitonga said 40 community members were trained in four focal areas of Kieni East, Mathira East, Tetu and Nyeri Central subcounties and ten from other four subcounties of Nyeri South, Mukurwe-ini, Mathira West and Kieni West.

“This has ensured that there is good representation in the community to ensure that they are able to offer the services across the county,” he said.