President Ruto, leaders donate millions to Kangema fire victims

President William Ruto has donated Sh1 million to 14 Kangema residents whose businesses were destroyed by a fire at Kiawambogo shopping centre last Tuesday.

The fire, which is believed to have been caused by a power fault, razed down several stalls at around 4 pm.

It spread rapidly after piles of hay stored in one of the businesses caught fire, overwhelming efforts by local residents to contain the blaze. By the time the fire was brought under control, the traders had lost their sole source of livelihood.

On Sunday, a delegation of government-affiliated leaders visited the area to condole with the victims, offer material support, and pledge further assistance to help them restart their businesses.

The team included Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, State House Deputy Comptroller Simon Gikuru, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, and Maragua MP Mary Waithera.

President Ruto’s donation was presented by Maina, who also made a personal contribution of Sh1 million. Wahome donated Sh700,000 to the affected traders.

The 14 traders who lost their businesses to a fire on February 3, 2026, at Kiawambogo shopping centre in Kangema, Murang'a/ ALICE WAITHERA

“Your MP reached out to the President, and I also did, and he sent us with his support,” Maina said during the visit.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata, through a representative, presented Sh20,000 cheques to 12 of the victims and pledged to support the remaining two at a later date. MP Kihungi had earlier made a contribution to the affected families.

“Without support, these families would be unable to restart their businesses and would have to look for alternative sources of income,” Kihungi said, thanking leaders for coming together to raise funds for the victims.

Gikuru announced that the government would also provide additional relief items, including 50 mattresses, 200 blankets, 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans, 10 cartons of soap, and five bales of sanitary towels.

During the visit, the leaders also used the platform to rally residents behind the Kenya Kwanza government, praising President Ruto for what they termed as an aggressive development agenda.

According to Kihungi, Ruto is the only president to have visited the constituency specifically for development purposes.

Site of the fire that razed down stalls belonging to 14 traders at Kiawambogo shopping centre/ ALICE WAITHERA

He noted that several local projects that had stalled for many years have since resumed under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“We did not benefit much during Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, but two years after his election, President Ruto visited and commissioned the Kangema KMTC campus,” Kihungi said.

Waithera dismissed debates around ‘One Term’ and ‘Two Term’ politics, arguing that Kenyans only need leaders who deliver tangible benefits.

“There is no need for constant fights. If you are elected, work for the people who voted for you and they will decide in 2027,” she said, adding that numerous government programmes have already benefited thousands of citizens.

Maina warned residents against abandoning the current government in anticipation of joining another one in the future, saying such a move would be counter-productive.

She argued that many of the challenges facing the Kenya Kwanza administration stem from policies implemented by previous governments.

Leaders from Murang'a county led by Lands CS Alice Wahome (left) during a fundraising ceremony for Kangema fire victims/ ALICE WAITHERA

“Mwai Kibaki introduced free education, while Uhuru Kenyatta implemented the 100 percent transition policy. The high levels of joblessness are partly a result of these programmes and increased access to information,” Maina said.

She urged young people to take advantage of initiatives such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme to start and grow businesses, empowering themselves and supporting their families.

Declaring her support for President Ruto’s administration, Maina invoked the saying ‘a bird in hand is worth two in the bush’ and cautioned against leaders attempting to lure the Mt Kenya region to the opposition.

Wahome described Ruto as the most accessible President in Kenya’s history and called on residents to support the government to fully benefit from its development programmes.

She also urged locals to ignore what she termed as misinformation portraying the government as a failure.

“We have reduced food prices to record lows and stabilized the Kenyan shilling against the dollar. Do not be lured to abandon a government you voted for. President Ruto’s re-election is a sure bet,” Wahome said.