20 families left homeless after fire destroys houses

NAIROBI, KENYA: Twenty families had to spend the night in the cold on Sunday after a fire caused by an electric fault gutted down 18 houses in Korrompoi, Kajiado County.

Two motorcycles and several TV sets were among the items destroyed during the incident. The affected families said efforts to contain the inferno were hampered by lack of proper fire-fighting equipment.

“I was away, only to return and find that all my belongings had been consumed by fire,” said Lameck Wagara, whose motorcycle and all household items were burnt.

Wagara, a boda boda operator, said he now had no source of income.

POWER BLACKOUT

Residents said the area had experienced a blackout for three days and the fire started at around 7pm in the evening when the power was restored.

“We saw sparks and shortly afterwards the houses caught fire,” said Christopher Ndetei, another resident.

The residents said efforts to reach the Mavoko fire brigade in Athi River were futile. Kajiado County lacks firefighting equipment.

“Most residents lost property due to lack of firefighting equipment. I will push the assembly to ensure funds are set aside to buy firefighting equipment,” said David Kirrimpai, the Kaputiei North Ward Member of County Assembly who joined residents in fighting the inferno.

Schoolgoing children from the affected families expressed fear that they may miss lessons as their uniforms and books had been destroyed.

“I don’t have uniform or school shoes because they have been burnt,” said a Class Eight pupil who attends Korrompoi  Primary School.

Meanwhile, businessmen in the area have called on the Government to beef up security in the town.

In a meeting at Kitengela Capital Centre yesterday, the investors said some of them may be forced to relocate to other towns if the spiralling insecurity in the town is not contained.

“Insecurity affects businesses all over the world. The latest killings in the town have left many of us worried and some of us may move to safer areas if the insecurity continues,” said Sweethomes Management Limited Director Mututa Kisinga.

outlawed sect

Twelve people have been killed in the area in the last three weeks as rival gangs believed to belong to the outlawed Mungiki sect clashed over control of the group’s property.

The exhumation of seven bodies from a mass grave in Empakasi area left many residents and traders fearing for their safety.

“We really want to see the Government take action and arrest the situation immediately.

Every business person and the entire population want to feel secure,” said Patrick Warutere, Manager APA Insurance Company.

The traders also promised to provide metal detectors to assist in screening people accessing various business premises in the area.

The investors’ meeting comes two days after Maasai elders gave the government an ultimatum of seven days to contain insecurity.

Kajiado County Commander Tito Kilonzi said last week that all those involved in the killings in Kitengela especially Mungiki adherents will be smoked out.