Fierce fire at Kerugoya prison./SCREENGRAB
At least 21 houses occupied by prison officers were destroyed after a fire broke out at staff quarters at Kerugoya Prison in Kirinyaga County, leaving officers and their families counting losses after personal belongings were reduced to ashes.
The fire broke out in the morning and quickly spread through the wooden structures, prompting firefighters from the Kirinyaga County Government to race to the prison in an attempt to contain the blaze.
The firefighting team battled the flames and managed to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Officials said the response team acted swiftly to contain the blaze, with a county clean-water vehicle playing a crucial role in the operation.
Kirinyaga County Police Commander Mohamed Jire said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire may have been caused by a candle that had been left burning in one of the houses.
He said 21 houses were destroyed, with prison officers losing personal belongings in the incident.
The fire has, however, triggered renewed concerns over Kirinyaga County’s preparedness to respond to emergencies, with local leaders questioning why firefighters and firefighting equipment were allegedly unavailable or in poor working condition.
Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango called for accountability over the incident, particularly concerning reports that county fire engines had remained grounded for about two years.
Murango said it was disturbing that the affected prison houses were located next to a parking area where fire engines were reportedly parked but remained unusable.
“The burning down of prison officers’ houses in Kirinyaga is a deeply concerning incident that calls for accountability,” Murango said.
He questioned the county government’s emergency response capacity, arguing that the reported state of the fire engines raised serious concerns about the ability of the county to protect lives and property during emergencies.
“This raises serious questions about preparedness, emergency response and the responsibility of the Kirinyaga County Government to protect lives and property,” he said.
The senator further called on the county government to take responsibility for the losses suffered by the affected prison officers and their families and explain why the fire engines had allegedly remained grounded for such a long period.
“The losses suffered by the affected prison officers and their families cannot simply be wished away. The County Government must take responsibility, explain why the fire engines have remained grounded for such a long period, and take immediate measures to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated,” Murango said.
Kerugoya Ward MCA Eric Muchina said the county assembly had allocated Sh50 million for firefighting equipment but questioned why water bowsers were still being used to respond to fire emergencies.
“This is not the first incident,” Muchina said.
The latest incident is likely to intensify pressure on the Kirinyaga County Government to explain the status of its firefighting equipment and account for funds allocated to improve emergency response.
The fire also comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over fire preparedness in urban and residential areas.
Weeks earlier, a major fire broke out in residential buildings behind the Posta area in Kangemi, Nairobi, sending residents into panic as thick black smoke rose above the neighbourhood.
Videos from the scene showed residents scrambling to escape the affected buildings, with some attempting to salvage household belongings as the flames spread through the structures.
