Use the Browser BACK button to return to listings

Nairobi , January 26, 2006

President Mwai Kibaki and First Lady Lucy Kibaki poses for a group photograph with the Israel rescue team who paid him a courtesy call at State House Nairobi. The team was led by General Yitzhak Gershon, Commander of the Front Command and Leader of the Israel Rescue Team. Israel Ambassador to Kenya, Immanuel Seri accompanied the team.

Israel is ready to train a Kenyan search and rescue team in preparedness and management of any disaster in the country.

Speaking today at State House Nairobi when they paid a courtesy call to President Mwai Kibaki, Israel Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Immanuel Seri accompanied by the head of the search and rescue team in the collapsed building disaster General Yitzak Gershon assured the president that Israel will finance the training of specialists in search and rescue missions.

Ambassador Seri said that his country will work hand in hand with the government of Kenya to recruit personnel to set up the disaster preparedness and management team that will comprise of personnel selected from various units of the Kenya armed forces.

On his part, President Mwai Kibaki flanked by the first Lady Lucy Kibaki commended the Israeli search and rescue team for a well done job during their four day battle against time to find survivors and bring them out of the collapsed building in Nairobi’s River road area of Nyamakima.

The president appreciated their search and rescue efforts saying Kenyans will always cherish their support that has seen precious lives being saved through their efficient and timely rescue techniques.

The president also thanked the Israel Government for its offer to train Kenyans on search and rescue missions saying this worthy course will definitely assure of preparedness and subsequent management of any eventuality.

The Israeli search and rescue team equipped with the state of the art facilities jetted into the country last Tuesday immediately after the collapse of the six-storey building that was under construction in Nairobi’s busy River road area of Nyamakima.

The tragedy has so far claimed the lives of 14 people and injured several others some of whom are still admitted in various city hospitals.

This is the third time the Israel government is offering its rescue assistance to Kenya after the 1998 terrorism attack on the US Embassy in Nairobi and the 2002 Kikambala hotel bombing in Mombasa.

Present were Minister of State for Special programmes John Munyes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Raphael Tuju, Assistant Minister Joshua Toro and Permanent Secretary Rachel Arungah.

Others were the Chief of General Staff General Jeremiah Kianga and Head of Kenyan Rescue Mission Major General Paul Opiyo.