The government on Monday launched a one month disaster management training to slum dwellers within Mavoko Sub County in a bid of ensuring that the public acquire skills to prevent and fight disasters whenever they strike.
The Athi River Assistant County Commissioner, Philip Lemalasia, said the program targeted vulnerable population especially youth and women living in the slums that are prone to disasters such as floods, fire outbreaks, road accidents, river drowning and disease outbreaks.
"This training targets vulnerable communities especially youth and women and children living in slums within the sub county that are prone to disasters as they are the most vulnerable," said Lemalasia.
Lemalasia said the training is comprehensive offered by the national government in conjunction with Kenya Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, Mavoko Fire Brigade and the Ministry of Health.
He said the training is going on at location levels with the assistance of chiefs and assistant county commissioners who are in charge of identifying participants from the most vulnerable communities who if trained can ensure their communities are protected and assisted whenever disasters strike.
Lemalasia said women, children and youth living in City Carton, Kanaani, Sofia and Kasuitu slums, all in outskirts of Athi River town are susceptible to disasters like fire, floods and disease outbreaks due to overpopulation and the pathetic situations in which they are.
He said the training will be conducted in stages with a target of 30,000 residents in the first one month arguing the number would be increased as the continuous program is implemented.
The commissioner made the remarks during the training's launch in Athi River town where he was accompanied with the region's fire brigade supervisor, Dancun Kamatu.
Kamatu said cooperation from the slum residents have led to reduced rates of disasters hence called on young people to volunteer in numbers for the free training opportunities available.
He however warned goons who were fond of attacking fire brigade officers whenever they were on a rescue mission by stoning the Mavoko Sub county fire engine.