A woman in Nairobi’s Pumwani estate is still coming to terms with the death of her husband and three children following a fire incident that gutted down their rented house on Tuesday evening.
The deadly inferno left a total of seven people dead even as residents blamed Nairobi County for slow response.
Metrin Muhonja, who lost all the family members, said her husband was resting inside their house with their one-year old and four-year old children when the fire started.
“When I returned, the fire was already at the gate, consuming my house and the neighbor’s. My husband, my children, and the neighbor were trapped inside,” Muhonja narrated in pain.
In an unexpected twist, her third child who had been away was also consumed by the fire.
Their grandmother Sarah Kuwise, said that the fire robbed her off the family members she was looking up to.
“My son was my pillar. He used to take me to work, buy me household items, and support me in many ways. Now, he is gone, along with my grandchildren who gave me strength and had bright futures ahead,” said Sarah.
Kuwise added it was unfortunate that she also lost her husband in the 1998 bomb blast and now the second tragedy has left her with no one to depend on.
“I am old. I need prayers and assistance to rebuild my life. I have lost everything,” she said.
Area residents blamed the response of the county fire engines that arrived after the fire had destroyed homes and claimed lives.
“The county government must improve their response to such incidents. Their inefficiency is costing lives and livelihoods,” another victim said, adding that businesses were unequally not spared.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, who visited the scene, described the fire as one of the deadliest in the area.
