Nairobi, Kenya - May 2015

In May 2015, Dave and Nancy more traveled once again to Nairobi, Kenya to continue planning, preparing and raising support for the first ever All Kenya Fire Academy. During this trip, they had the opportunity to travel to the coastal area of Kenya to better understand the challenges facing emergency responders across Kenya. Upon returning to Nairobi, they once again met with the Kenyan Stakeholders to continue preparations for the training that would be conducted in November 2015.

Meetings were held at both Missions of Hope International's Pangani Center and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The Kenya National Fire Brigade Association coordinated a meeting of many of the senior chief fire officers from across the country at the Pangani Center. During this meeting, AFM lead a collaboration exercise among the officers to determine what were the greatest training needs for emergency responders in Kenya. As a result of these meetings, it was determined those topics were: Fire Prevention and Community Response, Fire Investigation, Urban Search and Rescue and Senior Leadership Development.

Together with the Kenyan Stakeholders, AFM continued to work with governmental agencies to raise the support and awareness needed to allow the emergency responders across Kenya to increase their capabilities to prevent and mitigate emergencies. Additionally, a new draft of the fire prevention curriculum was presented for review and feedback. This vital information was again incorporated into the program as it continues its process to acceptance, printing and distribution.

Nairobi, Kenya - January 2015

During Africa Fire Mission’s 2014 training endeavor to Nairobi, the Kenyan Stakeholders asked AFM to help them establish a country wide fire training academy and training curriculum. In January 2015, our Executive Director Dave Moore traveled back to Nairobi to continue development of this proposal. During the week, AFM met with emergency and disaster responders from across Kenya to gain their perspective and insight into creating such an academy. In partnership with the Kenyan Stakeholders, we also met with governmental agencies to gauge their input and potential levels of support for such an endeavor.

Stakeholders included municipal fire departments, the Kenya National Fire Brigades Association, St. John Ambulance, The Kenyan Red Cross, Kenya Airport Authority, Legend Impact Communications, National Disaster Management Unit, National Disaster Operations Center, Association of Fire Industry of Kenya, Missions of Hope International, local media and community members.

As a result of these meetings, it was mutually agreed that a weeklong training academy would be held in November of 2015 as a beginning to the longer process establishing a physical fire academy and curriculum. The Kenya Airports Authority agreed to host the training sessions at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Africa Fire Mission would coordinate instructors for 4 topics areas that were to be chosen by the consensus of the Kenya emergency responders. KENFIBA would coordinate with the response agencies across the entire country of Kenya to ensure they were all aware of this training opportunity and to manage registration for the 200 students this academy would train.

At the conclusion of these meetings, AFM presented a draft of a fire prevention curriculum aimed at reducing fire risk in the slum communities of Kenya to Missions of Hope International and the Nairobi City/County Fire Brigade for their review and feedback. Their input was recorded and presented back to the curriculum developers so that the program could be changed to better meet the needs of those who will receive the training.

Machakos County , Kenya - November 2014

On Friday, November 7th, Dave Moore and Wallace Kamau (MOHI) met with the Emergency Management Staff of Machakos County. We toured the only working 911 center in Kenya and facilitated a question and answer session with their staff. Africa Fire Mission was able to donate PPE to the fire department and began planning for a regional fire academy. We were impressed with the emphasis that Machakos County is placing on emergency management and look forward to partnering with them in the future.

Lodwar, Turkana County, Kenya - November 2014

While the AFM team was training in Nairobi, Dave and Nancy Moore traveled to Lodwar to meet with county officials and begin assessing how AFM can assist in developing a fire service for Turkana County. We had a productive trip meeting with various County officials, a member of Parliament, and members of the Business Community. Plans are in development for how AFM can serve the people of Turkana.

Nairobi, Kenya - November 2014

Our mission started with collecting gear and raising funds to send a 40 foot container of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other mission supplies. The container shipped in July. The container arrived to Missions Of Hope International (MOHI) in October. Our team arrived in Nairobi on November 1st. Our team of trainers (Matt Flagler, Bob Rielage, Todd Rielage), spent most of the week training all of the shifts of the Nairobi Fire Service (NFS) in the use and maintenance of SCBA's (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus).

On Friday, November 7th, Bob Rielage, Nancy Moore and Matt Flager worked with the CHE (Community Health Evangelism) trainers from MOHI to begin development of a Fire Prevention program that meets the needs of the Urban Slum communities in Africa. Nairobi Fire Service sent one of their Fire Prevention Specialists and a partnership is being developed for NFS, MOHI and AFM to complete the development of the program to include training for CHE trainers and tools for them to use with community members.

Saturday, November 8th the AFM and NFS worked with the larger team from Lifespring Christian Church to have a community "Fun Day." NFS demonstrated the use of their trucks to put out fire and helped to change the image of the fire department in the slum communities. Community education is key to prevention and intervention in the slum areas.

Nairobi, Kenya - November 2013

In November, 2013 Africa Fire Mission delivered fire fighting equipment and gear to the Nairobi Fire Department. Three Africa Fire Mission team members traveled to Nairobi to participating in training with their Fire Department.

Nairobi, Kenya - November 2012

In November 2012, Dave Moore, founder of Africa Fire Mission, and Jeff Johnson traveled to Nairobi for the first time.