The Kenya National Fire Brigade Association (KENFIBA) has held a three day meeting in Athi River to revise and propose amendments on the County Government Disaster Management Bill 2014 that is currently before the Senate.
Members of the association expressed their dissatisfaction on the bill drafted by the senate arguing it did not address their interests.
Led by the association's National Secretary General, Francis Oliech, the delegation which comprised 30 representatives from seven counties went through the bill and proposed amendments they intended to forward to the senate for consideration.
Oliech said they had raised the issues with the senate which gave them mandate to revise and present memorandum on amendment proposals they wanted effected on the draft.
He disclosed the senate through its Head of Legal Department, Eunice Gisangi, had given them two weeks from Monday this week to revise the bill and come up with proposal amendments before they are taken to senate soonest for consideration.
The Secretary General said that first issue with the bill was that it did not mention fire in spite the fact that fire service was a key component of disaster management.
He said the bill would not be effective if amendments they had proposed were not considered, stating that former defiant local authorities had drafted bills dubbed "Disaster Management and Fire Management Bills" that flopped due to failure to put into consideration interests of stakeholders.
The delegation that came from Nairobi, Machakos, Mombasa, Kericho, Kilifi, Uasin Gishu and Kisumu County said there was need for fire inclusion in the bill arguing drawn, earthquakes, floods, famine, accidents and blasts all needed attention of fire fighters.
Oliech called on the senate to consider the amendment proposals when tabled before it to ensure that all issues of concern were addressed before being consented.