Homa Bay County gets more ambulances from the UK

Mr. Ken Kirkwood, leader of the Cumbria team standing between the ambulances at Tilbury port. [Standard]

Homa Bay County has received two ambulances from the United Kingdom after a visit by Workington Rotary Club and Cumbria Council.

The vehicles were delivered yesterday at Tilbury Port. This brings to five the number of vehicles donated by Cumbria. 

Mr Ken Kirkwood, international chair at the Rotary and leader of the project, thanked the Ambulance Service of Ireland, the Lancaster Rotary Club and the North West Ambulance Parts for the ambulances.

“It’s an incredible achievement, and we think it will help the Homa Bay Referral Hospital,” said Councillor Allan Barry, who added that they were happy to help the county to develop fire and rescue service as well as equip the referral hospital.

Last year, Cumbria County Council, Workington Rotary and Kootab Myoot Community donated two fire engines and an ambulance to the county to help build the capacity to deal with emergencies. In May, the team from Cumbria and two international fire experts jetted in to train the new fire brigade in Homa Bay.

The team was received by ODM leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, who admitted that emergency services were still poor in the country. They toured Homa Bay referral hospital and held talks with the CEO Lillian K’Ocholla and CEC health Richard Muga.

The Rotarians donated two ambulances and a dental chair.

Coventry Club Rotarian Kipnyango Seroney, who is also the chair of Kootab Myoot Community and a roving ambassador for Homa Bay County, said the trip was an eye-opener on the challenges facing counties.