“We Don’t Know Where to Start” Victims of Nanyuki Fire Accident That Left 37 Families Homeless, Narrate Their Miseries.

• The inferno is believed to have started from one of the houses and quickly spread to others, however, the main cause is yet to be established. The victims moved around in utter disbelief, in an environment that was characterized by rubble and ashes, caressing some of the burnt objects that survived the inferno. 
• Majority of victims from the Likii fire tragedy had left for work when the incident transpired. With nothing left to show of what used to be their abodes, the residents have pleaded with the government and well wishers to jump in, and help them find their foot as they have young children  who must keep going to school. 
• Area chief Martin Kariuki, said the county fire response team had reacted in quite good time but the fire had already ravaged down nearly two plots that housed over 37 families.

When Monica Mwangi came back from her workplace on the evening of Monday March 7, she wasn’t met by the tonic sight of her newly-rented house, that she had begun to get familiar with. Instead, she was met by the obscure sight of ashes, tiny plumes of smoke that were billowing sluggishly in the tense air and some sooty and murky metallic debris lying on the ground, as evidence of what used to be her house. When she had seen it standing tall, was 10 hours ago, the same day before she left for work and by the time she was looking at it again, everything seemed to have vanished in the thin air. Only a few metallic valuables had outlived the inferno.

Everything according to her was in order and she had left nothing in an unkempt manner, that would otherwise have triggered the blaze. However, as she moved around and caressed some of the unburnt objects, a strong grip of nostalgia hit her and she recalled how comfortably she had lived with her children and how her hard work had brought her the valuable assets. She then wondered how she would finally be able to get back on her foot given the much struggle and time she had taken to obtain the valuables.

However, this grim reality was also unfolding to some other 37 families whose houses had also been gutted down by the same fire which is said to have started in one of the houses. The narrative borrowed a similar angle; ‘the majority had arguably left their homes in the morning and came back in the evening’ only to be welcomed by the heartbreaking news.

“I have never seen such an incident in my life. We had left the house for a nearby hospital when sounds of fire cracking and some objects bursting loudly sent us back. The fire was so big, we were so afraid”. A victim told the Kenya News Agency the same day.

Monica who wondered how they would be able to recuperate from the tragedy, sent appeals to well-wishers and the government pleading with them to support them buy new household goods and get new houses as the cost of living had greatly skyrocketed and would be hard for them to regain motion in the near future. “We are doomed. Many people have been affected including school-going children, who even with the disaster must keep going to school. While they have nowhere to stay, we beg that all the victims be supported” she said.

In a settlement this small, those who didn’t lose their houses were very few and the village was engulfed in quite much grief. Even those who didn’t have their relatives affected, knew someone who’s house had been affected. However, there wasn’t sufficient space for them to be sheltered and most were confronted by the reality of going to find their relatives in other far-flung areas.

Winfred Gaturi a resident told the media she received the news while at work, also a few kilometers away when she rushed to only find that her house including those of her neighbors were up in flames.

Area chief Martin Kariuki, said the county fire response team had reacted in quite good time but the fire had already ravaged down nearly two plots that housed over 37 families. “The county fire response team was here in good time but the fire was so big and by the time it was contained, two plots housing over 37 families had already done down. We are quite devastated as these families have nothing much left as all their households have perished in the fire. He said.

The chief also pointed out that the victims did not own the houses but had only rented them from a certain proprietor, though the county government would consider all possible ways so they can help the affected families.

A probe has been launched by the chief’s team and some officers to establish the actual cause of the fire.