Man dies as fire guts down houses

By Cyrus Ombati and James Munyeki

A man was burnt to death and more than 100 houses razed down in three separate fire incidents in Nairobi.

Fire fighting services were over-stretched during the incidents on Sunday night, destroying property of unknown value.

The man died in a fire in Kiserian where 30 houses were reduced to ashes. Police and locals said the victim was a sleep when the incident happened and property valued at about Sh3 million was destroyed.

At the same time, another fire gutted down more than 80 stalls that had garments in Uhuru Market, within Uhuru estate, Nairobi. The cause of the fire is yet to be established, however, none was injured.

In Mukuru kwa Njenga slums more than 50 houses were also burnt down in another fire incident. The General Service Unit was forced to intervene to contain the fire at Uhuru Market.

Emergency services

City Mayor George Aladwa said more than 80 stalls that had garments and foodstuffs were affected.

"It is a big loss for the traders here and a wake up call on our emergency services. But we want to see what we can do to address such weaknesses," he said at the scene.

One of the fire engines was forced to leave Uhuru Market for Mukuru slums where another fire had broken out. Nairobi PPO Anthony Kibuchi said no injury was reported in Uhuru and Mukuru slums incidents.

Meanwhile, over three hundred families were rendered homeless after a fire gutted down their houses at Kabel along Laikipia-Baringo border.

Property estimated at Sh11 million was destroyed during the incident, that occurred on Sunday night. The fire that started at around 2am razed down eight residential plots.

According to residents, the fire was caused by an electric fault from one of the houses.