From the Standard today in regard to the Nakumat and Salgaa fires.
- In most towns, oil tankers are often parked on the roadside, a danger to passersby, shoppers, and other motorists. Children are often the most exposed to danger as they play a few meters from the tankers.
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- It has become the norm for people to rush for free fuel whenever a tanker is involved in an accident, oblivious of the risks involved, says Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.
- The country has no laws restricting/regulating the movement of oil tankers and trucks, transport industry players say.
- In 2006, a local trailer maker introduced tankers which enhanced safety features that do not allow fuel spills in case of accidents. Called the Safety Plus, the tankers are fitted with valves underneath that snap off in case of an accident and trap the fuel inside the container.
- Driver fatigue is to blame for most accidents involving trucks.
- Accident disaster scenes should be cordoned off.
- We should reduce the amount of Fuel transported by road.
- In March, 2006, a draft proposal called ‘Fire Safety Management Policy of Kenya’ was to be discussed and adopted by the Cabinet. The document still remains a draft to date.
- Most public service vehicles do not have emergency exit doors.
- Kenyans are ill-prepared to deal with fire emergencies, experts say.
- The Physical planning Act is stringent but building managers alter plans once they’re issued with building certificates. Years later, managers alter the buildings later to suit their businesses. In the Nakumat fire, government head of operations at the site said the supermarket’s exit doors were permanently blocked.
So we actually know all that?
Other than the fires, condolences to the family of Madaraka Karisa who lost his wife and 4 children in a road accident at Makindu on January 19th. They were laid to rest on Saturday.
And let’s not forget the corruption scandals currently rocking the country. The perpetrators might be taking advantage to cover their tracks now that the nation’s attention is turned to the fire disasters.
13 Comments:
i had about the two tragedies. the nakumatt fire and the tanker. it's really sad. especially when i keep on getting more and more information about how these events unfolded. very sad.
we are quite knowledgeable about stuff i tell you. but is anyone moving off their laurels to do anything about enforcing them? for the sake of my blood pressure i shall not venture an opinion. with the state of public health systems being the way they are it is upon me to take good care of self!
Ciku,
As they say it does not depend on how much we know but of what use we make the information we have. Leave you wondering whether we are not a burden unto ourselves for the serial lies we live with too much information we have no intention of using, COLECTIVE SHAME-only kidding ourselves as we self-destruct, OLE WETU.
Sasa Shixs, I'm back.
Ati Saitoti said what, and I guess he's very happy to be part of a cabinet that sits and does nothing for the people when its too obvious that unless the cabinet does soething, people will still continue stealing the opportunities to get something free for themselves.
But, true true we know so much and do nothing with the info. We need more education on what to do with the info.
I would rather we knew a little and did a lot with the information.
Thank you for this post, Shiko-Msa. Sort of puts things in perspective for me.
Neema/Intelligensia/Eunuch/Mama its sad indeed. Sadder still is that we don't seem to learn anything.
Maua welcome back. Your loooong silence was very loud.
Rombo you're most welcome. And karibu Wanjiku.
I think government is as equally to blame as the raia in this issue to be honest.
Why? This is because I do think there are some building codes that exist as regards businesses but due to our love of short cuts nakumatt must have bribed their way out of them. Fire hydrants? Built over and around with the help of bribes or plain disregard.
Let's not forget about Kenyans love of running towards trouble and not away. Did you see how close the crowd was to the fire? That just served to make the rescueing effort much harder.
We need to have public education campaigns, an overhaul of the public safety system, overhaul of building laws among other things.
Sadly little of this will happen.
Aco long time. I like your new avatar.
The rot in almost all government and local government departments and right down to the mwananchi is just sickening. God only knows how we shall get out of this hole because for sure in a few months we'll forget about the fires and Beth Mugo's directives will be ignored little by little until they're no more. Just ask one John Michuki.
The 2 tragedies were very sad and will remain sad especially for the families affected. The main problem with us is that we have information and do nothing with it. We also love shifting the blame. The government is responsible of taking care of the people in the country but how many times do we as Kenyans take the blame of voting in the wrong people over and over again...or even worse, not voting at all. We have to love our country and to protect it against the tricksters who call themselves leaders. There is a leader in all of us. Let's start leading and stop following. Become the change you want to see. Start today....
Cee karibu: Become the change you want to see. That pretty much sums it all up. I hope we're all listening.
human failure is to blame for this tragedies! my sincere condolences to the families of the bereaved
Very easy to blame many people but not that easy to change behaviour. Its a Kenyan problem that needs to be dealt with by all Kenyans (a little leadership by the government wouldn't do any harm either)
In our concience we all know what is right but we always tend to ignore it for what is popular, profitable or easier. Some hard choices need to made for us to live better in future. its all too depressing.
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