Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has constituted a five-member committee to develop guidelines and proposals for a long-term action plan to address fire emergencies in the county.
The Governor told a press briefing that his administration was concerned about rampant fires in the county’s urban centres and tasked the subcommittee to come up with legislation to address such challenges.
“We know that many of you have suffered immense losses due to the rampant fire emergencies that have engulfed our municipalities and towns.
While we are putting adequate measures in place, we also want to ask for caution on your part. You have a responsibility to make sure that you take precautionary measures to protect yourselves, families, and businesses so that we do not have to deal with fire problems that could otherwise have been avoided.
The subcommittee will be led by the county’s Deputy Governor, Martin Moshisho, and will be expected to table their report after 30 days.
The Governor directed the Departments of Emergency, Municipalities, Public Administration, Public Works, and Finance to immediately put up a comprehensive framework to address timely responses to fire disasters.
Cases of fire disasters have been rampant in the county, especially in the urban centres, resulting in huge losses to traders who often have to put the fire out themselves with no help from the county’s fire engines.
In October 2022, a night inferno burnt down 120 beds in a dormitory at Ilbissil girls’ secondary school; 12 traders lost their businesses, and a private home was also burnt in Ilbissil town.
In October last year, a huge fire engulfed Ilbissil Market in Kajiado Central constituency during the day and destroyed property of unknown value. Residents said that the fire lasted for four hours, yet no fire engine from the county was dispatched to help in putting it out.
In January and September last year, Ngong residents in Kajiado North also lost their properties and businesses to fire while the fire engines based in Ngong were grounded due to mechanical problems.
In November last year, a section of Kitengela market was destroyed by an early morning inferno, causing the traders losses amounting to millions. The traders also claimed that the Kitengela Municipality fire engine was parked a few meters from the fire incident, but it had neither water nor fuel to salvage the situation.
By Diana Meneto
