Meet Firefighter Kennedy

by Nancy Moore

I traveled to Isiolo, Kenya in July 2021, our Fire Safety Advocate, Jose and with Raphael and Steve from Missions of Hope International. It was finally time to meet with Fire Chief Wako and see face to face the young fire brigade in Northern, rural Kenya. They have formed a new fire brigade and are less than three years old.

While we were getting to know the firefighters there we noticed Kennedy. He stood out with a friendly grin and a confident presence. He also stood back - tucked behind some of the other fire fighters. José noticed right away that Kennedy had an amputated leg. As we talked with Kennedy and Chief Wako we learned that Kennedy was in a motor bike accident that resulted in the injury that led to his leg being amputated - while he was in the process of becoming a firefighter.

Chief Wako said he could see the spirit that Kennedy had and decided that he could use Kennedy on his team - in spite of his amputation. Kennedy serves as the Isiolo Fire Brigades Public Information Officer, Pump Operator and supports his team in any way he can. He wants to be fully restored to serve his community.

Will you help Africa Fire Mission by supporting this project to help get Physical Therapy and a Prosthetic for Kennedy? We are raising $10,000 to help make Kennedy’s dreams for serving his community come true!

Read Kennedy’s story in his own words:

“I applied for a vacancy of fire when I saw that advert on daily nation newspaper on August 2018 being complete with my two legs. I applied because I had passion for helping the community by fighting fire. I was given an interview in November 2018. I attended the interview and in February 2019 I received an appointment letter to report as a firefighter on 15 April 2019.

My accident occurred between my the day of picking my appointment letter and that period of reporting to my working station.

The accident was a rare accident, I was on motorbike and it happened to get a mechanical issues and we had fell into a drainage furrow. I got a normal fracture of the bone of my right leg. I was rushed to the Isiolo Referral Hospital where things turned to be worse. The doctors in charge of orthopedic messed up with my leg and the blood stopped circulating in my right leg after they put on plaster which was too tight. This resulted in the nerves not to function.

I had hoped to be transferred to one hospital but due to lack of funds I was unable to go. Later on I was transferred to a mission hospital. Things turned to be worse and worse after everyday. So there wasn't any alternative since my leg started getting worse and got rotten. I was in bad condition almost died.

It reached a point where one of the doctors came and advised me, instead of you loosing your life whereas you can get amputated and life be as normal as possible. I accepted the amputation and that things would be as normal as before even if I would not be having one leg.

So that's how I accepted for the amputation and life continued and I reported to job even if I reported late than others due to the recovering period.

So I went to work. Chief Wako shifted me to the office as an IcT manager of the fire dept of Isiolo. Sometimes I also help with pump operations and I do it to my level best regardless of being an Amputee. In some instance the county government wanted to do away with me due of me loosing the leg stating I will not be able to work as fire fighter but God fought for me and I retained my vacancy and Chief Wako insisted a lot he needs me in the department due to PASSION I had towards my career.

When I officially reported to work, I felt demotivated. Seeing others who we had applied with them same job had two leg whereas me I don't have. I was feeling much depressed and stressed but Fire Chief Wako was always there for motivating me and giving encouragement alot big morale for the job.

I want to get a prosthetic leg which can improve my performance as a firefighter. I am from a humble background which can't raise all that money to get that prosthetic. I am the one who is taking care of my family with that small amount of salary I get and am the one who pays school fees for my little sister who is in high school.

Am much humbled and may Heavenly God will Bless you Abundantly. Thank you alot as you look forward to help me.”

Yours Kenneth Mugambi Orutwa Isiolo fire and Rescue Department ICT Manager.

There are 4 fire stations in Malawi!

by Nancy Moore

We’d last been to Malawi in 2017 when Co-Founders Dave and Nancy Moore went on a vision trip. During that trip they worked to better understand the needs of the fire service and their dreams of the future as a better fire service. Lodious - the Fire Chief in Zomba, Malawi has a vision for Malawi’s fire service and made sure to share it with us.

Malawi has four fire stations - you read that right - four. For perspective land mass wise, Malawi is about the geographic size of Pennsylvania and there are four fire stations and less than 100 firefighters in the country. Firefighters are misunderstood by their community and under equipped to serve the communities where they are located. Firefighters are often stoned and ridiculed by the communities they are trying to serve.

AFM began looking for the right partner that could help us reach out and train the firefighters and the community across Malawi. Our friends at Namikango Mission were part of that next step, and something was missing. During conversations with Parkview Global, Orland Park, IL and their initiative for Peace Plan Malawi it became clear that we’d be able to partner with Peace Plan Malawi and reach the fire service across Malawi.

Finally, in June 2021, we were ready to travel with a team from Parkview to serve in Malawi. God provided a way for us to go even when the borders were closed to foreigners due to contacts in Malawi’s National Government and Department of Health.

While we were in Malawi, we we able to provide firefighter personal protective equipment to the Zomba Fire Brigade.

We were able to train firefighters from 3 of the 4 fire departments in the country (Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Zomba)! It was difficult to see the lack of equipment, the lack of PPE and the broken equipment. At one fire station there appeared to be 4 fire trucks - as we asked questions we learned that only one was in working condition.

We were able to pray for the firefighters and share God’s love with them as we conducted training on hose operations, using ladders, and search and rescue operations.

In Lilongwe, we found out that there were new Jaws of Life (Vehicle Extrication tools) that had been sitting in storage for over a year because no one knew how to operate them - and we were asked if we could teach them - YES! In a few days time we trained on the new equipment and it was able to be put into operation at vehicle accident scenes to save lives!

We are looking forward to what our work will look like in Malawi in the future and are planning to take a team of firefighters to serve in Malawi in June 2022!! Learn more about our mission trips here >

Partnership highlight - Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International

The Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International and Craig Duck - Missionary/President has been partnering with AFM since 2015. Their ministry has allowed AFM to provide bibles and devotional books to the Fire Service in Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia and Ukraine. Through FCFInternational, firefighter Chaplains have been trained in Zambia and weekly bible studies are taking place with firefighters in Kenya.

FCFInternational is currently having a membership drive. Firefighters - we encourage you to get involved to help FCFI continue their work! Memberships are $35/year and helps the ministry of both AFM and FCFI continue across the world!

Craig Duck gives this invitation: Would you like to see God glorified in the fire department He has called you to? Then FCFInternational wants you. February and March are our Recruitment and Retention Campaign. We are asking you to join our ministry and take the Gospel message to your department. There are several different levels you can sign-up for. The funds raised help us to produce the Encourager Magazine, place Bibles and devotion books in the hands of firefighters and in stations all across the world, and provide resources to help firefighters and first responders grow in their faith. Sign up today and make a difference in your department. For more information: https://www.fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.com