By: Emily Mikwa
Volunteer road marshals from Kondele base and the Kondele Somali base gathered at the Kisumu Traffic Park within the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga sports centre today for a transformative training session aimed at enhancing urban safety.
The event brought together over 20 volunteers alongside members of the Kenya Red Cross and key county officials to formalize a collaborative approach to street management.
Martina Rita from the County City Planning department opened the proceedings by outlining the core objectives of the initiative, which seeks to arm marshals with essential knowledge on road safety measures, basic first aid, and the protection of both themselves and the children who navigate the busy roads.
Highlighting the urgency of the mission, she announced that the momentum would continue with a dedicated road safety campaign walk scheduled for this coming Thursday.
Calvince Olango from KURA, called on the participants to know the importance of attending the training in relation to the work they perform concerning road safety.
Phoebe Lavin Awino of EvAMor Africa, emphasized that the project is rooted in promoting the enforcement of safety walkways. She explained that as part of the pilot sustainable urban mobility programme, a joint venture between the County department of Urban Planning and EvAmor, each trainee will be strategically based at specific locations to collect vital data on issues affecting daily road users.
The technical training was spearheaded by Mr. Gilbert Owalo, who led the group through the complexities of traffic rule enforcement, first aid basic skills and scene management, while Etyang Nyamke focused on the human element by teaching personal safety, the proper use of protective equipment, and strategies for effective communication and conflict avoidance with drivers.
The presence of John Juma and Felix Otieno from the National Transport and Safety Authority, alongside Ridge Misachi of the Kenya Red Cross Society, underscored the multi-agency commitment to making the streets of Kisumu safer for everyone.
