Residents of Tassia Estate in Embakasi who were victims of a brazen fire that razed down several houses recounted the last moments before the fire led to the destruction of their homes and property.
“I heard a big explosion. I rushed to the scene where I saw a huge fire. I could not even salvage my own property as I was caught up in saving other people and their properties,” a resident stated.
The residents were speaking in the wake of the fire that occurred on the night of Saturday, March 1, forcing many residents to spend the night in the cold.
The fire left at least six people, including a child, with injuries after they were saved. They had been trapped inside the buildings that caught fire.
Images and videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed emergency vehicles wading through the estate roads to respond to the situation as curious onlookers recorded the incident from their balconies.
“I left my house in the morning headed to work and left everything in order. When I came back I found everything had been burned down. The fire consumed my house and everything in it. The way I am right now is all that I have left,” a resident stated.
“I have lost so many things. All my documents including my ID (identification card) and my children’s certificates were all burnt. The school books of my children who were supposed to go to school on Monday have all been burnt,” another resident expressed.
Following the incident, the victims were rushed to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi.
Firefighters from the County Government of Nairobi and residents contained the fire, which had threatened to spread to other areas.
However, the residents reported that the emergency responders took too long to arrive to help contain the situation, which had sent shockwaves following cases of recent fires that have been reported in the area.
Embakasi Member of Parliament Babu Owino confirmed the incident in a video he shared on his social media accounts, urging prayers for the victims.
''Pray for us as fire is currently razing down houses at Tassia, Embakasi East. Property worth millions was destroyed, and children, men, and women were left homeless, and forced to spend the night in the cold. What a sad night in Embakasi East,'' Babu stated.
However, after the accident, the residents expressed their gratitude to Owino, who they claim paid the hospital bills for the fire victims.
“We would like to thank Babu Owino for his assistance after the fire. He managed to pay the bills for the people who were injured from the fire,” a resident noted,”
At the time of publishing this story, authorities had yet to comment on or highlight the cause of the fire.
