Soy Member of Parliament (MP), David Kiplagat, has raised serious concerns over the delayed response to a fire that broke out in Moisbridge municipality on January 19, which led to the destruction of business properties worth millions of shillings. In a statement made following the incident, Kiplagat criticized Uasin Gishu County’s emergency services, pointing out the failure to provide timely intervention in the crisis.
"How do you send a water bowser lorry to put off a fire three hours after the incident has occurred, resulting in the loss of businesses and livelihoods?" Kiplagat questioned. He emphasized that the primary responsibility for emergency services lies with the county government and that such incidents of delay and neglect are unacceptable.
This fire in Moisbridge is not an isolated case, according to Kiplagat. He referred to a similar incident in Ziwa Secondary School, where the county's emergency response was equally slow. Despite previous promises by county officials to set up fire stations in critical areas like Ziwa and Moisbridge, those plans remain unfulfilled, leaving residents and businesses vulnerable.
Kiplagat called on the county government to fulfill its constitutional duty of providing essential services, particularly fire-fighting equipment and fire stations in urban centers such as Moisbridge, Ziwa, Turbo, Moiben, Burnt Forest, and Kesses. He argued that these services are not optional but are critical for the safety and well-being of the people, who contribute taxes to fund such services.
As a result, Kiplagat made it clear that he will no longer tolerate the incompetence of county officials. "If the county government does not provide the necessary emergency services in Moisbridge and Ziwa, I advise the business community in Soy to withhold further taxes until these essential services are fully implemented," he stated.
He further criticized the county government for spending taxpayer funds on what he described as "wasting money on goons and bloggers" to silence critics, rather than investing in vital emergency services. "The Governor should focus on providing quality services to the people, not on disciplining those who dare to speak out," Kiplagat asserted.
The MP concluded his statement by setting a three-month deadline for the county government to establish and operate emergency services in urban centers. "If these services are not in place within the next three months, we will have no choice but to down our tools and hold the government accountable," he warned.
The Soy MP’s remarks have ignited a wider debate on the county's preparedness and ability to respond to emergencies, and it remains to be seen whether the county government will take swift action to address these critical concerns.