Uasin Gishu MCAs are pushing for improved facilities for disaster preparedness in Eldoret following its upgrade to a city.
In the first quarter of this year, the region recorded over 50 disaster incidents especially fires and drowning accidents.
The MCAs want the county government of Jonathan Bii to invest in more facilities and train additional staff to help handle disasters.
The assembly committee on roads has expressed its commitment to support Governor Bi’s administration on all initiatives aimed at enhancing and taking emergency services closer to residents.
Committee
members led by their chairman Gilbert Chepkonga toured the Eldoret City fire
station, where they held a meeting with staff on key priority areas that will
help improve service delivery by the fire and rescue team.
"Our
focus is to ensure we support the executive to have a model fire station and
enhance this teamwork of responding to emergencies and equipping substations.
We are here to support you and I want to assure you that we will ensure the
resolutions made in this meeting are followed and implemented," Chepkonga
said.
County
executive for roads Joseph Lagat and chief officer Geoffrey Tanui said plans to
construct fire stations in the upcoming municipalities are in top gear and that
they were keen to ensure the welfare of fire officers was prioritised.
Other
issues discussed included the purchase of modern equipment, rehabilitation of
fire stations, purchase and maintenance of new fire engines, staff welfare and
partnerships with cities abroad.
During
the meeting, Governor Bii was commended for his move to recognise the fire and
rescue section as a directorate with a leadership structure and MCAs pledged
to support expansion of the department.
The
MCAs noted that the fire department had always been quick and effective during
recent disasters in the region, including in neighbouring counties.
