Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko spent Sh4.9m on Sinai fire victims

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has told the High Court in Nairobi that he has spent over Sh4.9 million to help Sinai fire victims settle their medical bills and other expenses.

Mr Sonko, who appeared before Justice David Majanja, said he wants the Government to compensate the victims of the September 12, 2011 Sinai fire.

He told the court that it was due to the negligence of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) that the fire occurred, killing over 100 people.

“There were no good roads where fire fighter vehicles could have passed. The sewage also drained water to the victims’ habitats (sic),” he said.

The senator is representing the victims.

A 13-year-old boy, who suffered 30 per cent burns, told the same court how his life changed after the inferno.

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“As I struggled to see, I fell down and got burnt. Your honor the fire changed my life as I cannot play again. I have constant headaches,” said the boy.

Justice Majanja further heard that another victim, Rebecca Ndeta, lost her one-year-old baby. “I had left the baby in the house when I heard a loud bang outside and left to see what was happening,” said Ms Ndeta.

She ran back to save her child but she does not know what happened after she got outside the house because she later woke up in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). The victims argue that they had not received any notice from the Government that their Sinai plots were not fit for human habitatation.

Lost documents

“For me to build a house there, I had received a letter from the chief, who confirmed that the plot was mine. I blame KPC because the oil belonged to them,” she said.

She said she has not received any assistance from the Government, adding that she lost her title documents in the fire.

Another victim, Sarah Njoki said she was preparing breakfast when she heard an explosion. After that, she woke up in KNH, where she stayed for two weeks. She said Sonko settled her hospital bill which was over Sh120,000.