Governor urges residents to exercise caution to curb fire incidents

Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii before Senate CPIC Committee to consider audit reports of Eldoret Water, Eldoret City and Municipality and Uasin Gishu Hospital at Bunge Towers, Nairobi, on March 25, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has urged residents to take preventive measures to avert fire incidents that have destroyed property worth millions of shillings in the last two months in the region.

Bii issued the warning following at least 40 fire incidents in the region since January.

The governor said in the last month alone the incidents have been reported in all the fire stations in all the six sub-counties.

"Let us be more cautious because what we have experienced for almost two months was a serious disaster in the county," Bii said.

County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi identified Soi, Turbo, Kapseret, Moiben and Inabkoi as some of the sub counties that have been affected by fire incidents.

Mwanthi thanked officers from fire brigade for quick response, especially at a residential area in Jerusalem estate and Jumbo in Racecourse ward within Langas estate.

David Sitati, the Chief Fire Officer in the area said that more than 40 fire incidents have been reported since January.

Recently, three children died after fire broke out in their house in Njambini, Yamumbi, Uasin Gishu county.

Kapseret sub county police commander Zephaniah Kamuren said the children aged between 1 and 8 were locked in house while their mother was away.

"Two of the minors were burned beyond recognition while one of them suffered severe burn wounds," Kamuren said.

The police boss the inferno razed the rented house which was constructed using mud and iron sheets.

The children were sleeping on a bed in the single room house when tragedy struck.