Bomet County bought three firefighting trucks last year at a cost of Ksh. 7 million each. The County came under fire because the trucks were not the standard kind that we are used to. They were converted Tata trucks, with a tank and a house ladder at the top.
Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto defended the purchase saying that the trucks were well suited for the Bomet terrain and fitted their budget.
Sorry for the wrong information circulating in the social media about the Fire Fighting Trucks and equipment.We purchased three of them(1/2)
— Isaac Ruto, EGH (@IsaacRutoGov) August 19, 2015
..at KES 7M each and it will be supported by 6 15,000L water bowsers. The trucks are well suited for Bomet's terrain.And budget. (2/2)
— Isaac Ruto, EGH (@IsaacRutoGov) August 19, 2015
A video by Kirui Jeplanget, has been posted on Facebook, showing one of the trucks arriving at the scene of a fire. When the ‘fire hose’ is produced it becomes apparent that the powerful water bowsers that Governor Ruto claimed the trucks had do not exist. At least not in the usual form. The hoses the trucks have are actually car wash pressure hoses. Also, the ‘firefighters’ do not have proper fire fighting clothing and other equipment (oxygen masks & tanks, boots, gloves etc).
Firefighting equipment is really important for counties and its sad to see Bomet County not taking this important function seriously. Watch the video of the Bomet Fire truck below