13/04/2026
đź’”The tragic death of Michael Wafula, after reportedly waiting over five hours for an ambulance, is not just an isolated incident. It is a reflection of systemic failure within our emergency response infrastructure.
At its core, this was not a failure of medicine, but a failure of coordination. Kenya’s emergency response ecosystem remains fragmented, with no unified dispatch system, limited visibility of available ambulances, and weak accountability structures. Even where policies exist, as highlighted by ongoing county-level efforts to establish ambulance systems and dispatch centres, the gap between policy and operational reality remains significant. A system can be documented, but if it is not actively coordinated, resourced, and locally responsive, lives are still at risk. In such an environment, families are left to navigate chaos in moments that require precision.
đźš‘What could have been done better
In an ideal system, emergency response should be seamless, decentralized yet connected, and time-bound. County-level dispatch centres must not only exist but function optimally—linked to real-time ambulance availability, staffed with trained personnel, and supported by clear escalation protocols. Beyond infrastructure, there is a need for last-mile responsiveness—ensuring ambulances are not just stationed in urban centres but embedded within communities where emergencies occur. Community-linked responders, supported by technology and clear communication channels, can significantly reduce response times.
✍🏼What we can learn, and where Breesl comes in
This tragedy reinforces a critical truth: emergency care must be built from the ground up, not just from the top down.
While national frameworks and county policies are essential, impact happens at the community level. This is where Breesl is intentionally positioning itself—not just as an ambulance provider, but as a community-integrated emergency response system.
Our model focuses on:
→ Embedding emergency response within communities, not just facilities
→ Strengthening county-level systems through partnerships, not duplication
→ Enabling faster activation through localized networks and trained responders
→ Bridging the gap between policy and actual response on the ground
Because in reality, emergencies don’t happen in policy documents, they happen in homes, on roads, in rural and peri-urban spaces where systems are often weakest.
The progress made across counties, policy development, dispatch centres, is a step in the right direction. But it also highlights the opportunity ahead: to make these systems truly functional, inclusive, and responsive at the community level.
Ultimately, this is about equity. No one should lose their life because help could not reach them in time.
The question is no longer whether solutions exist.
It is whether we are willing to implement them where they matter most.
Have an emergency?
đź“ž Call us on 0721491110
