Kirinyaga County Assembly Deputy Speaker Jinaro Njamumo has criticised the county government over delays in procuring a new fire engine, despite the County Assembly allocating about Ksh50 million for the purchase in the 2025/2026 financial year budget.

Speaking during an interview with People Daily Digital on Friday, July 17, 2026, Njamumo, who is also the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Mutithi Ward in Mwea Constituency, said the county had neither acquired the new fire engine nor repaired the existing one, which has been grounded for an extended period.

He noted that the Assembly had allocated Ksh10 million to repair the broken-down fire engine by replacing its engine and gearbox, in addition to setting aside funds for the purchase of a new unit.

“We allocated Ksh10 million for the repair of the broken-down fire engine, to buy its engine and gearbox so that it can continue serving Kirinyaga residents, but that is yet to happen. We also allocated funds to buy a new one,” Njamumo said.

Depending on neighbouring county

The Deputy Speaker questioned why Kirinyaga continues to depend on fire engines from neighbouring Nyeri and Embu counties whenever fire emergencies occur, yet the Assembly had already set aside funds specifically for the purchase of the equipment.

“At least five fire incidents break out in a period of two weeks in Mwea Constituency, where we either lose property or businesses, and we rely on fire engines from other counties like Embu and Nyeri,” the Mutithi Ward representative said.

He commended the county government for constructing a fire station in Kutus town but questioned why the already completed facility has no fire engine to operate from it.

“Why would we have a fire station without a single fire engine?” the second-term MCA posed.

The Deputy Speaker called on the County Executive to expedite the procurement process and account for the allocated funds, warning that continued delays put lives and property at risk.

“So we would like to ask Governor Anne Waiguru, ask your staff where the money allocated in the budget to buy a fire engine went,” he said.

However, an anonymous source from the county government of Kirinyaga said that the procurement of the fire engine has already been advertised, awaiting purchase.

“Procurement is at the advertising stage. Fire incidents are emergencies, and our department calls on assistance from other counties when they occur.”