Families in the cold in Mukuru after night fire razes 60 houses
A distraught Winnie Nyambura (right) ponders her next move after she was left homeless by a fire which burnt 60 houses in Nairobi's Mukuru Kayaba slums on September 2, 2019. It is suspected an illegal power connection was the cause of the fire. PHOTO | SAMMY KIMATU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Elias Ndereva was only left with his children's double decker bed after the rest of his household items were looted.
- Winnie Nyambura said she was left with the only clothes she was wearing when the fire broke out.
- A perimeter wall which borders the slums prevented the fire from spreading further.
A number of families in Nairobi’s Mukuru Kayaba slums spent Monday night in cold after an inferno razed 60 houses.
The fire started at around 8.30pm from one house in what authorities said was due to an illegal power connection.
It spread fast after it was fanned by winds, forcing youths to demolish some houses to prevent further spread.
The situation was chaotic after irate youths pulled hose pipes from fire engines and pelted Nairobi County fire fighters with stones, accusing them of late response after they were alerted about the fire.
A victim, 35-year-old Elias Ndereva, who occupied two houses, was only left with his children's double decker bed after the rest of his household items were looted.
Residents of Nairobi's Mukuru Kayaba slums rummage through what remained of their house which were burnt by a night fire on September 2, 2019. PHOTO | SAMMY KIMATU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
START FROM SCRATCH
The father of four, who is a Jua Kali trader, said he will have start from the scratch.
Another resident, Winnie Nyambura, a mother of one and who is a housewife, said she was left with the only clothes she was wearing when the fire broke out.
She asked for well-wishers to assist those affected by the fire.
A perimeter wall which borders the slums prevented the fire from spreading further.
Police officers arrived at the scene and kept guard as the fire fighters battled the blaze which was eventually put out at around 10pm
