Tragedy as man, 45, killed in fire incident in Mukuru slums, Nairobi

Public Service CS Goffrey Ruku at Mukuru kwa Reuben Slums, Nairobi

A 45-year-old man was killed in a fire incident in Mukuru Kwa Reuben slums, Nairobi.

The fire also burnt down at least ten structures, leaving many homeless.

Police said the fire broke out on Sunday dawn from one of the structures before spreading fast to others.

According to police, the fire affected almost 100 people whose houses were burnt down. The body of one Peter Okweba was discovered in the rubble long after the fire had been contained, police said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately established, police said as they moved the body to the mortuary pending other procedures.

Those whose houses were burnt have urged for help to reconstruct them.

Locals said fire engines did not respond fast to the scene. The firefighters also complained that lack of access roads to the area and other informal settlements had hampered their response to such incidents.

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku on Monday evening visited victims of the fire tragedy and expressed solidarity with the victims.

He also offered words of comfort as affected residents began the recovery process.

He assured them of the government’s immediate and continued support through the State Department for Special Programmes.

Ruku reaffirmed his ministry’s mandate to ensure the safety, protection, and welfare of all Kenyans, particularly during emergencies and disasters adding he is focused on relief, recovery, and long-term interventions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Elsewhere in Nyamusi village, Nyamira County, a man was killed after a tree he was cutting fell and trapped him.

Police said Polycarp Maina, 35, was busy cutting a tree in Bomwagamo village when it accidentally fell and trapped him fatally.

His body was later removed from the scene and moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.

Police said the incident happened on January 18 in the evening leaving the village mourning. 

Meanwhile, police in Nakuru’s Bondeni area are investigating the murder of a 45-year-old man whose body was found out a house.

The man was identified as Peter Karanja, and the body was found outside the house after he had been killed.

Police believe the deceased was killed in the house, and the body was later dragged outside, where it was abandoned.

Two suspects were later arrested for interrogation over the murder, police said as they moved the body to the mortuary pending other procedures.

The motive of the Sunday murder was not immediately established even as police insisted the suspects in custody are prime in the probe.