Nairobi, with a population exceeding 4.3 million, faces a worrying and dire situation as its firefighting capacity has been drastically reduced.
Out of 31 fire engines and water tankers, 26 have been grounded due to delays in procuring spare parts, leaving the city with just five operational vehicles to respond to emergencies across all 17 sub-counties
The high-profile meeting will also seek to establish and strengthen a pan-African platform of young African leaders and practitioners, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and collective action towards climate resilience.
Nairobi, with a population exceeding 4.3 million, faces a worrying and dire situation as its firefighting capacity has been drastically reduced.
Out of 31 fire engines and water tankers, 26 have been grounded due to delays in procuring spare parts, leaving the city with just five operational vehicles to respond to emergencies across all 17 sub-counties.
Appearing before the County Assembly’s Culture and Community Services Committee on Wednesday, County Chief Officer for Disaster Management, Bramwell Simiyu, revealed that over 20 fire engines and tankers are currently grounded at the county’s central garage, awaiting repairs.
“We have 26 vehicles grounded for issues as simple as tyres and brake parts. We’ve discussed this matter and pushed for action. As we speak, only five operational fire engines are covering the entire city,” Simiyu said.
Painting a grimmer picture, Simiyu disclosed that of the five vehicles in operation, only two are fully functioning fire engines, while the other three are water tankers.
This shortage has come at a time when the city has seen increased fire incidents, particularly in informal settlements.
Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration is now grappling with the challenge of safeguarding the city’s residents, especially in vulnerable areas like Kibera, Mathare, and Kawangware, where fire incidents have become alarmingly frequent.
