Uasin Gishu government is expanding and modernising its disaster preparedness, including development of a modern fire station ahead of elevation of Eldoret town to city status.
The planed elevation has already been approved by the Senate and forwarded to President William Ruto who will approve the same and award a charter to the town.
Governor Jonathan Bii says the county has already taken measures for enhancing the sustainability of its fire section.
Top officials, led by acting director fire and rescue section Lazarus Sile, have been carrying out regular awareness of inspection and prevention programmes to boost fire safety compliance, improved facilities, acquisition of more fire trucks and other equipment.
Speaking during a meeting at the Eldoret main fire station, Sile said the department will push for the enactment of a fire bill at the county assembly.
He said department will also initiate a programme to train fire safety ambassadors across all wards and ensure the involvement of fire officers in the inspection of buildings before issuance of occupational permits for safety standards, among others.
The move will also enable the digitisation of the fire department and establish a training centre at the Maili Nne sub-station to support basic training on firefighting in schools and other institutions.
“All these is aimed at ensuring that the county has well-equipped and trained manpower for overall management of disasters,” Sile said.
He said Governor Bii was keen to ensure the town has all necessary facilities ahead of elevation.
The meeting chaired by Sile was also attended by Mark Tarus (deputy director of Planning and Administration), Stella Birech (human resource - Department of Roads) and David Sitati (acting chief fire officer), among others.
The fire station officers, led by Sitati, have in the recent past attracted accolades from residents for their quick response whenever there are disasters or rescue missions in the region.
“We have well trained and dedicated staff who have been assisting in many situations whenever they are called upon to do so,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sitati has raised concerns over increased cases of suicide by young people who drown themselves in dams across the county.
“We have an increasing number of cases where we are called upon to retrieve bodies from dams and rivers in the recent past," he said.
The Eldoret fire station is the best equipped and staffed in the region and works closely with the fire department at the Eldoret International Airport.
