Over 200 residential homes in Kibarage slums go up in flames

Families salvage burnt iron sheets after 200 houses were gutted by a fire at Kibagare Slums in Loresho, Westlands, Nairobi County. [Phillip Orwa, Standard]

More than  200 residential houses in Kibagare slums, Loresho were razed by fire yesterday.

According to victims, the cause of the 8pm inferno is still unknown.

Samuel Kameru a victim says, that was the fourth time his house was catching fire in the area.

“The first time an incident like this happened was in November last year and I lost all my academic certificates. Nothing was rescued. I cannot get a good job because I lack papers. It has now happened again I have to put on a brave face because there is nothing I can do,” said Kameru.

For Sammy Njeri this was the second time to be a victim, this time losing his identity card and some expensive work tools.

“This is the second time I will be forced to buy tools. Right now I do not even know what to do or where to start. I had spent a lot to purchase the tools, the loss is too much to bear,” said Sammy.

Shawn Francis, a youth representative, urged the government to come up with initiatives that will educate the youth on disaster management skills so that they can handle such incidences and minimise losses.

“I would like to ask the government to educate the youth on how to deal with fire incidents and also how to curb them. Because cases of fire are not new in Kibagare anymore,” said Francis.

Residents that were not affected had high praise of the emergency response saying the fire marshals arrived shortly after the fire broke out.

 The fire brigade collaborated with the youths and put out the fire as residents watched from a distance in hope of seeing something they could rescue.

No injuries were recorded.