BY RAWLINGS OTIENO

Fire gutted property of unknown value at a University of Nairobi hostel on Sunday.

The fire, which started at about midday from one room in the hostel along Lower State House Road in Nairobi, spread rapidly to raze 15 other rooms.

Witnesses said a student leader started the fire in an incident related to a recent attack on the secretary general of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) Alex Mateere. Mateere had his fingers chopped off by unknown assailants last week.

The student leader is said to have arrived at the building in a gang of five and went to Room F22 (said to belong to Sonu Chairman Babu Ochieng).

The witness, who sought anonymity, said he accompanied the student and his gang to the room where he asked for a matchbox, and soon afterwards a fire broke out.

"I accompanied Mateere and his colleagues to the chairman’s room and when we reached, he asked for a matchbox, but then I left. After that I heard people screaming: ‘Fire! Fire!" said the witness.

Watched in dismay

It took City Council of Nairobi fire engines one hour to extinguish the fire as hundreds of students watched in dismay as property worth thousands of shillings was burnt.

The building housed architectural engineering students and Sonu officials.

At least 15 students who were out of the building at the time fire started escaped uninjured, but lost all their belongings.

"All my certificates were in that room. These people must face the law," said a student.

Efforts to reach the vice-chancellor for comments were unsuccessful since he had switched off his cell phone.

Architectural Students Association president Alex Malinga said it was absurd that innocent students were affected by leadership wrangles within Sonu and demanded that the administration compensates the victims and relocate the student leaders.

Malinga demanded that the administration beefs up security in the hostels fearing that more arson attacks were imminent to avenge the attack.

Kilimani OCPD Bernard Muli said they had launched investigation into the incident and asked the students to remain calm as they pursue the culprits.