A group of 1,000 women have made history after they became the first members of the female gender to be recruited as firefighters in Kenya.
Nancy Mong'are and Sylvia Katu were among 1,000 women recruited this year by the Nairobi Fire department. They are currently training at the Kangundo Road Fire station.
Nancy told NTV she was honored to be among the first women in the country to be recruited to the fire fighting department.
"It is a pleasure being among the first ladies to be recruited to the fire brigade," Nancy stated.
She also described fire fighting as a calling that involves saving lives. The 20-year-old recruit stated that her decision to join the fire brigade was inspired by her desire to help people and serve humanity.
Nancy revealed that she received mixed reactions from her friends and family, who questioned her decision to join the brigade at a young age.
Some even cast doubt on whether she met the height requirement to join the service.
Aged 23, Sylvia Katu disclosed that the level of discipline and the manner in which fire fighters handle themselves attracted her to sign up as a fire lady. She was also inspired by the idea of saving lives and property.
Katu admitted being afraid at first, but the training and skills they acquired has not only boosted their courage but also dispelled their fear.
Despite the negative attitude of the public towards the fire department, the two vowed not to be shaken. They are adamant that they want to leave behind a great legacy.
"I want to be remembered as the fire lady who was always up to the task, was never scared of anything and also want to inspire the ones who want to join this," Sylvia remarked.
Brian Kisiali, the Deputy Director, Fire Rescue and Disaster management, stated that women initially feared joining the Fire Department.
He described the latest recruitment as an achievement that would put Kenya on the same level with other countries which have female brigades.
Kisiali observed that the performance of the women recruits during drill sessions indicated that they can work very well in the male-dominated profession.
Previously, women were only recruited to administrative jobs in the fire fighting and disaster management services and not to the frontline.
The recruits will undergo training before being dispatched to fire stations in Nairobi.
