This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
On July 2, 2021, the Polish government officially opened a Sh20 million Fire and Rescue Training Centre in Kiambu, marking a significant milestone in Kenya's firefighting capacity.
The centre, funded by the Polish government, is the first of its kind in the country and has been accredited by the Technical Vocational Education Training Authority (TVETA).
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Poland Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Pavel Jablonski emphasized the importance of the training centre in providing high-quality professional education and certification services for firefighters from across the country.
According to Jablonski, the partnership between the Polish Centre for International Aid and the County Government of Kiambu has already yielded positive results, with over 600 Kenyan firefighters trained by Polish instructors and firefighting services offered in over 30 counties.
The Polish government has also donated professional personal protection equipment and gear for Kenyan firefighters.
Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) chairman Samuel Kahura praised the training centre, stating that it has equipped firefighters with the latest techniques in combating fire and rescue missions.
“Previously we didn’t have high rope rescue, but now we have the skills, at least in 30 counties”, Kahura added.
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro expressed his pride in the partnership, which he believes will continue to build capacity and empower disaster and fire management teams through training by the Polish government.
“I am proud of the 80 graduates as we are now very prepared in case of a disaster and my government will continue partnering with The Polish government to empower the disaster and rescue team with more skills to deal with disasters,” said Governor Nyoro.
Notably, the partnership has also led to the development of a locally manufactured fire engine, the Isuzu, which costs four times less than imported fire engines and has been customized to suit Kenya's rough terrain.
