Machakos opens emergency rescue centre at Kyumbi to boost highway safety

Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her deputy, Francis Mwangangi (left) unveil the Kyumbi Fire Station and Emergency Centre along Nairobi-Mombasa highway. [Erastus Mulwa, Standard]

Machakos County has unveiled its sixth fully equipped Fire and Emergency Rescue centre at Kyumbi along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti, who commissioned the state-of-the-art facility Tuesday afternoon said the centre will be strategic in dealing with incidents and emergencies along the country's busiest road transport corridor.

Complete with fully loaded fire engines, the new facility will offer 24-hour fire response, rescue services, trauma counselling and linkage to long-term support in what the county boss refers to as one of the greatest milestones in the county's emergency response preparedness campaign.

Technical staff including highly trained firefighters, emergency responders, healthcare professionals, drivers, and catering staff have been assigned to man the facility which will also be utilized as a command centre for emergencies in the rapidly expanding urban area.

"The Kyumbi Fire Station and Rescue Centre stands out as a game-changer in our county's emergency response operations, reaffirming my government's focus on efficiency during times of unforeseen incidents," Governor Wavinya said.

Established through partnership with the Polish Centre for International Aid, the facility will also respond swiftly to road traffic accidents, trauma incidents, and medical emergencies near Kyumbi Level 3 Hospital and double up as the county's public health emergency operating centre.

The Governor lauded the First Responders Support Network for offering advanced capacity building to the firefighting staff, terming it an invaluable transformation of the county's emergency response capability.

"Your provision of a fire pump in our fire truck, investment in capacity building of our fire fighters across the county, and support for our firefighters will go a long way in saving lives and properties. Together, you have strengthened our county's emergency response in ways that words alone cannot express," she said.

Later, Wavinya commissioned a newly constructed Early Childhood Development Education centre (ECDE) at Nthuluni primary school in Kinanie Ward before inspecting numerous development projects across Mavoko Sub-County.