Kisii county acquires Sh64m firefighting engines

Kisii Governor James Ongwae flags off newly purchased fire engines. One of the engines has a water capacity of 10,000 litres. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The county government has purchased two firefighting engines worth Sh64 million.

According to figures from the county’s Stakeholder Management and Public Participation office, the first bigger engine, with a water capacity of 10,000 litres, cost Sh50 million.

The second, with a water capacity of 750 litres, cost Sh14 million.

While flagging the two engines yesterday, Governor James Ongwae said they would be stationed in Kisii town, but would serve all the nine sub-counties.

Mr Ongwae said a third fire engine would be bought within the financial year once the county assembly approves the budget.

“This is a major step in our disaster preparedness plan, given that there is enough water supply in Kisii town,” said Ongwae, adding: “We now have a functional fire department to protect investments in our county.”

The Governor further announced that a modern fire station being constructed in Kisii town would be operational next month.

The station is part of Sh164 million projects being funded by the World Bank in the county.

“I will commission the Kisii fire station next month. The station will serve as a disaster response centre not only for Kisii County, but neighbouring counties as well,” Ongwae said.

Fire incidents

He stressed that a number of fire incidents had been reported in the recent past, occasioning loss of property worth millions of shillings.

He noted that an investment in disaster preparedness was imperative to curb such losses.

Personnel in the fire and disaster department have already undergone a training in modern fire safety techniques and on how to use the equipment.

County Commissioner William Murindat thanked the administration for the acquisition of the fire engines.