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{
    "id": 1451275,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1451275/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13582,
        "legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
        "slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
    },
    "content": "have a firefighting machine and had to get one from Nyeri County. When we got there, it broke down and therefore, it was not able to put out the fire. We had to get one from Kirinyaga County. You can imagine the total time taken for a fire engine to drive from Kirinyaga to Laikipia. It is therefore imperative that as we come up with the framework, we also look at the needs of each county and ensure that the machines and equipment they are using are tailor-made to suit their own needs. It is also not lost on us that in our curriculum development, firefighting has not been taken up as a training to ensure that we have well- prepared firefighters. In a developed country - I am saying this because I lived for over 20 years in Germany- firefighting is a three-year course that is offered to dedicated people, who are well-trained, not only to fight fire, but also give first-aid services, as well as basic medical care. We know that most of the firefighters we have in our country are employed and given short-term training. They are ill-equipped and do not have the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and whenever they are confronted with fire, especially if the fire is hazardous like the one we had in Mradi or Sachangwan, we end up losing many lives. Therefore, to avert such occurrences in the future, it is also important that we look at our curriculum and what we are offering in our Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and start considering embedding firefighting courses as one of the basic units that should be trained in schools. I say this as Sen. Abass walks back, that it is the high time that we start addressing the issues that were raised by the Generation Z. We should have a solution- oriented kind of training that will not only create employment, but also enable the young leaders of tomorrow to take the leadership of this country. That includes the services offered, such as firefighting. The Senator has come up with a good Bill and I commend him. There are austerity measures we were talking about on saving costs. When it comes to the issue of saving lives, there is no amount that can be justifiable to say it is too much to spend to save a life. Therefore, some of these services are so important. We can look at leakages and wastages that occur elsewhere and establish such important services. I am saying this, as the Chairperson of the Committee on Energy, having been able to conduct an inquiry on the occurrence of the Mradi Gas Explosion. We know it is the laxity of the law enforcement officers, the loopholes and the gaps that have been left by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) as the regulator to ensure that the gaps are sealed, that led to such occurrences. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we know that that can be avoided in future, if we come up with strategic measures. This is one of the few countries in the world where you will find a gas or fuel tanker parked alongside other vehicles. It is high time we came up with policies to have designated parking spaces for those trucks that are ferrying hazardous, explosive and flammable substances to ensure that the risks of such accidents occurring are minimized. That will also go a long way to The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}