Student who helped colleagues escape Moi Girls fire tragedy in Kibera dies

Mary Njengo- Moi Girls School student who perished in a fire incident. Photo by WILLIS AWANDU

A student who helped her colleagues escape the Moi Girls Nairobi dormitory fire has died from the injuries she sustained.

Life slipped away from the courageous Mary Njengo, 14, who woke up and guided her distressed colleagues out of danger’s way as soon as she noticed smoke in the building.

Her aunt, Anne Emali, said on Monday the school’s matron told them that some survivors of the tragedy were grateful to Njengo for saving their lives.

Brave student

“The matron told us how our brave little girl tried everything within her powers to save her friends. She was waking them up and even went back to make sure everyone was out of the dorms,” said Emali.

Unfortunately, the former Mukuru Primary School student was trapped inside the burning building and was found later, severely burnt, by the first responders.

On Sunday afternoon, Nairobi Women’s Hospital Chief Executive Officer Felix Wanjala said Njengo, who was in an isolated ICU ward, had suffered 66 per cent burns and that she was hopeful she would be recover. She, however, did not survive.

Njengo’s family rushed to Chiromo Mortuary only to be informed that her body was not there.

“We are confused because she had been at the hospital and we were only informed via phone that she had died, yet no one is clearly telling us where her body has been taken,” said Ms Emali.