Mwaura visits Embakasi fire scene, offers support to affected residents

The government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura on Friday visited the Embakasi area affected by a fire.

Addressing the residents, Mwaura said that the government is working with the Kenya Red Cross and the Nairobi county government to cushion them from the effects of the deadly Thursday night fire.

He offered his condolences to the families of the victims who succumbed to the fire.

"As of now, the government has established that three people died in the fire and 280 is the total number of those affected," Mwaura said.

"The government says pole sana."

The government spokesperson also said that they are looking for ways to find homes for those whose homes were razed down by the fire.

He said that the government will offer relief food and non-food items to the affected residents.

Mwaura had in the morning given details of what happened. He said a lorry carrying gas cylinders exploded.

"Yesterday (Thursday) at around 11:30 pm, there was a huge explosion at Mradi area, in Embakasi, Nairobi County. One Lorry loaded with gas exploded, igniting a huge ball of fire that spread widely," he said 

Mwaura further revealed that a flying gas cylinder hit the Oriental Godown nearby, burning it down. The godown deals in garments and textiles.

As a result, the inferno further damaged several vehicles and commercial properties, including many small and medium-sized businesses.

The fire even spread to residential houses, he said.

"Sadly, residential houses in the neighbourhood also caught fire, with a good number of residents still inside as it was late at night," Mwaura added.