County caught flat-footed as another fire razes homes in Kibra

For the third time this month alone, Nairobi City County has been caught flat-footed as fierce fire gutted down several homes and businesses in Kibera slums.

 The Thursday evening inferno was reportedly caused by a stove explosion around 9 pm and in minutes it spread around the famous Laini-Saba settlement.

 About 300 families were homeless in about an hour and several shops turned into ashes.

  “The fire started around 9 pm and we alerted the County but the first fire engine arrived about an hour later with empty tanks,” Judy Nyambura, one of the victims.

 “Two young men were preparing their meals around the time when the stove exploded but instead of calling for help they fled leaving the fire to spread,” she added.

 Nyambura said the residents contacted the county fire department but the first fire engine arrived about 1 am without water and when the second one arrived, it didn’t have enough water.

 “That was not enough to put out the fire until a Kenya Army fire engine arrived to assist the resident. Hours later, we have not seen anyone on the ground like the Governor or area MP,” she added.

 Pastor Michael Bosire appealed to the County to offer support to the affected families adding that three churches were gutted down.

 “Fire incidents have become frequent in Kibera and our appeal to the County and the national county is to ensure that locals get title deeds so that they can construct permanent homes,” he added.

 The latest incident comes after the August 3, fire that razed down part of Toi market killing four people who were trying to save their items from stalls around 2 am.

 Attempts by the Nairobi governor to visit the Toi market turned violent after irate traders and residents chased him while blaming the county for making false promises and laxity.

 On August 4 another fire razed down houses and businesses in Mukuru slums leaving locals counting losses.

 On why fire engines did not arrive on time and without enough water, County Disaster Management Chief Officer Bramwel Simiyu said the hydrants around the area have low pressure.

 “Another problem is that when the public interferes with the firefighters such a case that they grab the pipes from fire engines thus leading to waste,” Simiyu stated.

 Simiyu added that there were no casualties in the Laini-Saba incident and they have started fixing hydrants in the area and restoring boreholes in the fire stations.

 “During such incidents, we are forced to go far to get water but the problem is being addressed,” he added.

 Laini-Saba Ward MCA John Ndile, by the time he contacted the County fire department after the reported incident, the fire had spread and was challenging to contain.