• Residents say the biggest problem is lack of water, so they used sewer water to douse the flames.
• The 'annual' Gikomba fire has become routine since 2012 and and no arrests have been made.
Image: MAUREEN KINYANJUI
Nairobi MCAs say Nyiumba Kumi members are best placed to respond quickly and bfequipped with firefighting equipment for swift response to emergencies.
Already, a motion has been tabled in the county assembly seeking to have Nyumba Kumi members in informal settlements trained and prepared for emergency fire responses.
The county representatives say firefighters sometimes take too long because of narrow access roads and Nyumba Kumi members could help.
Mlango Kubwa MCA Patriciah Mutheu said fires are increasing, especially in markets and informal settlements counterywide..
Last week, fire razed more than 10 houses in Pipeline estate.
On October 8, at least two people were burnt to death after a fire in Mlango Kubwa area. Another person was missing.
The fire started in one of the structures at 2am before razing almost 50 of them.
Police said after the fire had been contained, they recovered the charred remains of a man and child.
Nairobi deputy police boss James Mugera said they were yet to establish the cause of the fire.
Residents said the biggest problem is the lack of water, which requires them them to use sewerage water to put out the fire as they await firefighters.
Markets have not been spare. In August, Gikomba Market in had its ' usual' annual fire near the mitumba section where millons of shillings of clothing were destroyed.
The traders complained the fire broke out in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic when they were trying to adjust to the economic hardship.
The annual Gikomba fire which appears to have become a routine since 2012 has never been solved and no arrests have been made.
MCA Mutheu said if the county executive were to take several measures to ensure fire precautions are taken, they would reduce the damage because the emergency response would be timely.
“These measures ought to include mapping out hot spots across informal settlements and markets where repetitive fire outbreaks are notorious,” she said.
“This Assembly urges the executive to urgently take measures to identify, train and equip Nyumba Kumi members with skills and equipment enabling them to respond faster to fire and emergencies," she said.
This is especially important in informal settlements where rescuers take a long time to arrive, she said.
The motion will be debated after the assembly resumes sittings after a one-week recess.
(Edited by V. Graham)