Blind granny, 15-year-old boy burnt to death in slum fire

By CYRUS OMBATI 

A 93-year-old blind woman and a teenage boy were burnt to death in a fire incident in Nairobi’s Kibera slums.

Police and witnesses said Alice Mbeke Mailu and Ken Odida, 15, were trapped in the fire that started from one of the structures.

The woman died as she tried to find her way out of the burning house while the boy was chocked as he tried to salvage their belongings from the house.

Police said the fire at Laini Saba caused much damage and deaths because fire engines could not access the scene.

Residents used bare hands and other crude weapons in fighting the fire, as it spread fast from one structure to the other.

About 30 structures were burnt down in the incident and police said they were yet to know the cause of the incident.

Kilimani deputy police boss Johana Chebii said they were called and informed of the fire incident minutes after it had broken out.

“We are yet to know the cause of the fire, but we lost two people including a 93-year-old woman,” said Chebii.

The incident left many people homeless and were last night appealing for help.

The remains were later moved to the mortuary.