MWN is in Grade 4 and the Embakasi gas fire has left her, not just without a parent, but also with no books for her studies.
They lived in Miradi area of Embakasi in a mabati house.
On Thursday, February 1, life routine in their household happened as usual; Her mother helped her do the homework and they took supper before retiring to bed.
Little did she know that it was the last time her mother would write her homework and her life turned upside down.
MWN would be rudely awaken in a melee after fire erupted from a gas tank explosion. She found herself taken by rescuers to safety and it was not till midday on February 2, when she learnt that their house had been gutted by the inferno and nothing got salvaged. Not her clothes, their household items and sadly, her mother.
“Where is mum?” is the question she kept asking those around her and no one was prepared to give her a direct response.
Once the news was relayed to her, MWN’s world stopped for a moment and days since the incident happened, she is receiving care and psychological support from counsellors and relatives to pick up the life pieces.
Her experience mirrors that of FRO who lost both his parents to the inferno.
The pain and anguish of the minors, including the future that appears bleak for them, is a perfect depiction of the cruelty of life.
Tears rolled freely on Wednesday during a memorial service in Embakasi East convened to pray for the affected families and also do a funds drive to help with the burial and medical expenses of the victims.
Eleven people died from the incident. Some 300 sustained injuries from the fire and they are receiving treatment in hospitals in Nairobi.
The injuries vary from burn wounds on the head, face, hands, legs, back and face, among other parts of the body.
Among the dead include Anne Nyaguthi and her child Charles Macharia, Evans Oduor and his wife Mirriam Onyango, Vallery Nyandigo, Flora Njeri, Austine Shivanda, Martyin Walumba, Simon Mulongo, Stanley Vulima Chasua and Peterson Mwangi.
During the service, the pictures of all who died were put on display, evoking their memories to their loved ones in attendance.
Area MP Babu Owino led the drive, urging the government to do more to support the families.
Acting Nairobi county secretary Patrick Analo said they had established that 761 people had been affected by the fire both directly and indirectly.
"The county has established that 148 households were affected by the blast, 761 people were affected, 50 businesses were burned and there are still 15 people who can't trace their family," he said.
Analo said 15 of the victims are minors whose parents have not been identified.
County officials confirmed the number of those seeking shelter to be 30 people.
Those affected will be provided with psychosocial support and medical fees waived, he said.
A few days after the incident, a smell of leaking gas was detected in the area, forcing the county government to evacuate families living in the area as a precaution.
Analo said as part of the precaution, City Hall has seven ambulances on standby and further evacuation contingency plan is on a stand by.
Four suspects in the gas explosion have since been arrested and arraigned.
DCI officers apprehended Derrick Kimathi, Joseph Makau, David Walunya Ong'are and Marrian Mutete Kioko who are now being detained to allow further investigation.
