Nakuru County’s Department of Disaster Management has initiated proactive measures aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and ensuring timely, effective emergency response to minimize losses.
The department is developing structured planning and rapid response mechanisms designed to safeguard lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure from both natural and human-made disasters. These efforts are part of the county government’s broader commitment to enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability among communities.
Chief Officer for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, Ms. Joyce Ncece, said the county plans to partner with St. John Ambulance Kenya to establish a Medical Response and First Aid Support Division. The unit will be integrated within the County Fire Brigade to bolster emergency response services across Nakuru.
Under the proposed framework, St. John Ambulance will provide pre-hospital care, first aid services and both basic and advanced life support at emergency scenes. Meanwhile, the Fire Brigade will continue executing its core mandate of firefighting, rescue operations and fire prevention.
Ms. Ncece noted that deploying trained medical personnel alongside fire and rescue teams will significantly reduce response times and improve survival outcomes for injured victims during emergencies.
The collaboration will also feature joint fire drills, disaster simulation exercises and mass casualty response training to enhance preparedness and coordination among responders.
In addition, the county is working toward establishing a coordinated multi-agency response team to facilitate seamless, professional and rapid emergency interventions. The initiative seeks to improve communication, streamline operations and ensure effective deployment of resources during crises.
As part of the ongoing consultations, Ms. Ncece held discussions with St. John Ambulance Kenya Regional Commissioner, Mr. Patrick Mboma, to deliberate on the proposed partnership. Both parties emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to strengthen disaster readiness and response capacity.
Founded in 1928, St. John Ambulance Kenya is a leading provider of emergency medical services, first aid training and community health volunteer programs. The organization offers ambulance services, disaster response support and workplace safety training, while actively recruiting volunteers to support community health and emergency preparedness initiatives.
by Jane Ngugi
