Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi Counties have received a major boost in fire and emergency response capacity following a two-week intensive training conducted by a team of fire fighters experts from the United Kingdom.
The programme, which brought together firefighters and emergency responders from the three counties, focused on equipping participants with modern skills in fire suppression, rescue operations and emergency
The UK team was led by Commander Ryan Phillips from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue, alongside experts drawn from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue, South Central Ambulance and East of England Ambulance services.
Speaking on Thursday 30th April 2026, during the training at Kinoru Stadium,Phillips commended the commitment shown by local firefighters, saying their ability to work effectively with limited resources is encouraging.
“We are pleased with how they utilize the available resources to respond to fire emergencies. However, we are calling on County governments to prioritize and invest more on this crucial department,” said Phillips.
He added that the collaboration between the UK volunteers and Kenyan counties would continue, with a focus on sharing modern firefighting technologies and enhancing skills in casualty rescue and emergency response.
He noted the training covered a wide range of areas, including fire safety in homes, road safety education and water safety awareness.
Also speaking firefighter trainer Jim Rankin praised participants noting they were intensively taken through practical drills such as hose handling, ladder pitching for high-rise access and rescue procedures in complex situations.
“The team is amazing. They are eager to learn paramedic services, ladder operations, hose management and many other critical skills. We are confident this training will also help them in educating the community on basic life support and fire safety” added Rankin.
Meru County Director of Special Programmes Lenah Kiambi described the training as timely and impactful, saying it had greatly enhanced the capacity of local emergency teams.
“We are happy with this partnership with the UK. It is very educative and has equipped our team with new knowledge and expertise to handle fire outbreaks and other emergencies,” she said.
Miss Kiambi noted that such collaborations are essential in strengthening disaster preparedness at the county level, especially in regions that continue to experience fire incidents and road accidents.
The director noted the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen emergency response systems across counties by building local capacity and promoting knowledge exchange between international and local experts.
Tharaka Nithi County Fire Chief Officer Alex Mugambi and his Embu counterpart Moses Mbugua at the same time said that collaboration with fire experts from the United Kingdom has significantly improved the counties firefighting capacity.
Mugambi noted that the first round of training conducted in 2024 equipped local fire crews in Tharaka Nithi with modern techniques in emergency response, fire suppression and disaster management.
He emphasized that the skills gained have already enhanced the team’s efficiency and preparedness when handling fire incidents across the county.
Mr.Mbugua further expressed optimism that sustained cooperation will not only improve technical skills but also support the development of better firefighting infrastructure and safety standards.
Firefighters who participated in the training expressed hope that the new skills would improve their efficiency in handling emergencies and reduce casualty cases.
The training is set to conclude on Friday, marking the end of a programme that stakeholders say will have a lasting impact on fire and emergency services in the region.
Edited by John Majau
