Nakuru residents exposed as fire trucks grounded over debt, repairs

Eldama Ravine residents gather around the damaged fire engine involved in a road accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. The vehicle has since been detained at DT Dobie. [PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD]

Nakuru, Kenya: Uncertainty looms in Nakuru town after two fire engines were grounded, leaving residents exposed in the event of fire outbreaks.

A motor vehicle dealer is said to have detained one of the fire engines over an unpaid debt while the other vehicle is grounded at Central Police Station after being impounded by police for being unroadworthy.

The fire truck was involved in a road accident along the Nakuru-Eldama Ravine road two weeks ago.

A source told The Standard that the car manufacturer detained one of the trucks over an alleged debt of Sh1.4 million owed by the county government. The dealer is demanding to be paid first.

Fire Station Officer in-charge, Joseph Kuria, confirmed that both trucks were grounded but declined to comment on the debt issue,. He referred us to the Infrastructure Development Executive, Joel Maina.

IDLE WORKERS

According to him, DT Dobie had delayed repairs on the impounded truck because of complications posed by the structure of the vehicle.

"The problem is serious and should be solved today, not tomorrow. Several people are making emergency calls but our hands are tied. What  should be understood is that the vehicles were grounded but not the hotlines," said Mr Kuria.

Kuria said the seven engineers employed under the fire department unit had been reporting to work every morning but were not doing anything meaningful.

"If there is any debt, the executive in charge should be in a position to know. We collect no money. We only deal with disasters and that is it," he said.

DT Dobie branch accountant Paul Macharia confirmed the vehicle was in their garage but refused to  divulge any more information, citing customer-client confidentiality.

He said the lorry, a Mercedes Benz, was brought to them by the county government after it was involved in an accident that damaged its rear.

"We cannot talk about payments unless our client, who is the county government, authorises us to do so through a written communication. I can only confirm that we have the vehicle in our yard," said Mr Macharia.

USING TWIGS

Attempts to get clarification from the concerned office failed as we were told Infrastructure Executive Samuel Mwaura was away on official duty.

During the fire outbreak in Menengai Forest at the weekend, fire engines from private firms and the military had to be called in to put it out.

In some instances, residents and Kenya Forest Service rangers were forced to use twigs to fight the raging fire that destroyed hundreds of acres of the forest.

The two fire engines were bought by the defunct Nakuru Municipal Council in 2002.