May 24, 2026 Kisii Town – A fire that broke out near Texas Petrol Station in the Nyambera (Denmark) area of Kisii town on Friday has sparked sharp questions about the preparedness and operational capacity of the Kisii County fire department.
Eyewitnesses and local reports indicate that despite the Kisii County Fire Brigade station being located roughly 500 meters from the scene, no county fire engine responded to the emergency. Instead, firefighters from Nyamira County, approximately 30-40 kilometers away, traveled to the site to help contain the blaze and limit further damage to nearby properties.
The incident has drawn strong criticism from Dennis Mosoti (also known as Mosoti Ekisore), a vocal Jubilee supporter and ally of former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i, who serves as a Kisii County youth leader.In a strongly worded statement, Mosoti said:
“DISASTER MANAGEMENT IS NOT POLITICS.
It is about saving lives, protecting businesses and safeguarding investments. We cannot normalize a situation where taxpayers are abandoned during emergencies while neighboring counties come to our rescue.”
Mosoti noted that this was the second recent occasion on which Nyamira County firefighters have had to intervene in Kisii town.
He questioned whether the Kisii County fire section remains fully operational or has been effectively incapacitated.Praise for Past Performance, Concern for PresentMosoti highlighted that under previous county administrations, Kisii maintained one of the most active and effective fire response units in the Nyanza region.
The department reportedly responded promptly within Kisii and even assisted neighboring counties including Homa Bay, Migori, Nyamira, and Narok during emergencies.“Today, under the leadership of Governor Paul Simba Arati, the fire engines, equipment and personnel seem to have disappeared when residents need them the most,” he added.
He called on the Kisii County Government to urgently address the public on several key issues:
- The current status and operational readiness of the county fire department.
- Availability and condition of fire engines and other disaster management equipment.
- Staffing levels and preparedness of disaster response teams.
- Reasons for the lack of response from the nearby fire station during Friday’s incident.
Residents Demand AccountabilityLocal residents have expressed frustration over the apparent delay, with some videos and posts circulating on social media showing the fire causing property damage before external help arrived.
Many have praised Nyamira County for its swift assistance while questioning why Kisii, as the larger urban center, appears reliant on neighbors for basic emergency services.Kisii County has not yet issued an official statement on the incident as of Saturday afternoon. The county maintains a fire emergency contact number, but questions persist about ground-level functionality.
Disaster management falls under the mandate of county governments in Kenya’s devolved system. Reliable and rapid fire response is considered essential, especially in a busy commercial hub like Kisii town, where petrol stations and dense business premises pose high risks.Mosoti concluded his statement by emphasizing that residents of Kisii “deserve accountability, preparedness and leadership that works during moments of crisis.”
Further details on the cause of the fire and the extent of damage are still emerging. This incident adds to ongoing public discourse about service delivery in devolved units, particularly in critical sectors such as emergency response.
