Nanyuki Hospital suffers losses in dawn fire

Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital medical staff salvage some equipment after a section of the administration block was destroyed by fire. [PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD]

Suspected arsonists have burnt down the administration block at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Crucial documents, including hospital staff files, which were in the registry, and a recently installed CCTV system, were destroyed. Medicines that were in a store adjacent to the offices were also destroyed.

The incident occurred a day after nurses agreed to resume work after a strike that lasted for a week.

The fire started at around 5.30am. Witnesses said they heard a huge explosion before the building, which houses the Medical Officer of Health and Medical Superintendent’s offices, accounts offices and a laboratory, was engulfed in flames.

Wendy Mwenda, 17, and Glory Gaitugi, 17, who were asleep in the neighbouring Nanyuki PCEA hostels said they were woken up by a huge explosion.

“We thought it was a bomb attack and as we approached a window to see what was happening outside, the entire building was in huge flames,” said Mwenda.

Although the cause of the fire was not immediately established, hospital officials and police pointed at possible arson.

The Standard also discovered footprints at the site, while a mesh wire fence appeared to have been stepped on.

The affected building is situated about 50 metres from the wards.

Patricia Muthoni said that after the fire broke out, patients evacuated the wards for fear that the fire would spread to the facilities.

“We were called after the building caught fire and we found patients outside. Others were trying to extinguish the inferno before the Kenya Defence Forces fire extinguisher from Laikipia Air Base and fire fighters from Laikipia County arrived,” said Ms Muthoni.

Laikipia County Chief Officer of Health Timothy Panga said no injuries were reported.

Dr Panga said that a server for the online payment system, which could have been the major target of the arsonists, and which is normally hosted in the admin block, was relocated on Saturday.

Laikipia East OCPD Kipkoech Kirui said police are investigating.