Author
Reference
Benard.,
L., (2015): Why literally burn a fire engine?. Intel Fire Group
of Companies Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.
Why literally burn a fire engine?
As the
promoter of fire safety in the Kenyan community, it was a shock to read a
headline screaming with the words “Burnt 40M county fire engine was not authorized
to respond to salgaa protests”. This is after a Nakuru County fire engine was
reduced to ashes by protesters within the county who were not happy with the
relocation of a parking bay at the local market, Salgaa. The local newspapers
are reporting that protocol was not followed when the fire engine responded to
demonstrations by the local residents. One must be thinking that, was it the
work of the county fire station to respond or is it the police? The local
reports have over emphasized on the engine being burnt by the locals without
giving reasons why the fire engine responded in the first place as Kenya is yet
to experience fire engines responding during protests.
Whatever
the cause may be, still it does not give any of the Salgaa residents a blanket
opportunity to burn to ashes a social need in the society. Tomorrow when one of
their houses will be on fire, the same culprits will be fast to criticise the
government for not responding to their need and putting out the fire in time.
This is an irony of the highest calibre that not even most learned fellows have
had an opportunity to explain fully. This as per the reports was only fire
engine available at the County fire station. But as being lucky is determined
from previous scenarios, the World Bank in the evening of the fateful day
delivered two fire engine which were to boost the response unit at the county
fire station the only difference is that now the engines will not be boosting
as earlier anticipated but will now be aiding in response as they are the only
ones.
The
Kenyan population should accord emergency responders the safety and security
they need during their periods of turmoil and ensure that projects geared
towards social needs like protecting the Wananchi from fire are protected at
whatever costs. County Fire Engines provides free services to the same people
and burning an engine is like flashing your property insurance down the toilet.
Remember the protesters are majority not able financial, the engine your anger
is directed at is also your property and the County Government as the
custodians.
DEMONSTRATE
SAFE & PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL NEEDS TOOLS
The Author is a Research Generalist in Projects Management Specializing
in Safety Service Delivery
