By Samson Wire
The Siaya County Government has unveiled a bold, multi-pronged strategy aimed at improving emergency medical evacuations and tightening vehicle security amid growing concerns over road accidents across the county.
The new plan emerged from a high-level consultative meeting convened by the Department of Public Works, Roads, Energy and Transport, led by Chief Officer Dr. Nicholas Kut Ochogo, under the Nyalore Administration. The meeting brought together departmental staff and key stakeholders to craft practical, ground-based solutions to save lives and secure county transport assets.
Addressing the forum, Dr. Ochogo noted that in many road accident scenes, boda boda riders are often the first responders, arriving long before ambulances. Recognising this critical role, the department resolved to formally engage boda boda operators as rapid mobility partners to facilitate swift evacuations to health facilities whenever accidents occur.
“This is about working with the reality on the ground. Boda boda riders are already there. The goal is to organise, support, and integrate them into a structured emergency response system,” Dr. Ochogo said.
To strengthen capacity, the department proposed the procurement of new vehicles and motorcycles dedicated to emergency response and operational mobility. These proposals will be forwarded to the County Procurement Unit for consideration in upcoming budgets. At the same time, the county plans to dispose of outdated and inefficient assets such as old fire engines and tractors once new equipment is acquired, ensuring optimal use of resources.
The meeting further identified Ugunja, Ugenya, and Alego Usonga as priority areas for the establishment of dedicated offices and workshops to support emergency operations and vehicle maintenance.
These initiatives align with Governor James Orengo’s development agenda, which prioritises sectoral transformation through robust funding under the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023–2028) and the Annual Development Plans (ADP). Significant allocations have been made to maintain and upgrade ambulances, vehicles, and motorcycles used in medical evacuations and disaster response.
Dr. Ochogo also confirmed the rollout of a rapid deployment system to replace old, dilapidated Inspectorate vehicles with modern, reliable units for county staff. In addition, the department is working closely with the Department of Finance and Economic Planning and the Directorate of ICT to implement vehicle tracking systems to enhance security, improve accountability, and curb misuse.
The strategy signals Siaya County’s renewed commitment to safer roads, faster emergency response, and efficient, secure management of public transport assets—an approach officials say will ultimately save lives and protect public resources.
