A morning fire at the Kerugoya Prison in Kirinyaga County has left dozens of prison officers and their families counting heavy losses after a fire tore through their staff quarters.
While the flames have been extinguished, the ashes left behind have sparked a debate over the county’s emergency preparedness.
The fire, which quickly engulfed the wooden structures of the staff quarters, completely destroyed at least 21 homes, reducing the personal belongings of the resident officers to ashes.
According to Kirinyaga County Police Commander Mohamed Jire, preliminary investigations suggest the inferno may have been accidentally sparked by a candle left burning in one of the houses.
Firefighters from the Kirinyaga County Government raced to the scene to battle the flames, eventually managing to stop the fire from spreading further.
The rescue effort, however, highlighted a glaring issue that is the response team had to rely heavily on a county clean-water vehicle to contain the blaze, rather than standard firefighting equipment.
Missing fire engines
The reliance on a water bowser has triggered severe backlash from local leaders, thrusting the Kirinyaga County Government’s disaster preparedness into the spotlight.
The frustration is compounded by a bitter irony, the destroyed homes were located right next to a parking area where the county’s fire engines were reportedly parked, completely grounded and unusable.
Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango has been vocal in his demand for accountability, expressing dismay over reports that the county’s fire engines have been out of commission for roughly two years.
He challenged the county leadership to explain how they intend to protect lives and property if their primary emergency tools are left to rot.
“The burning down of prison officers’ houses in Kirinyaga is a deeply concerning incident that calls for accountability. The losses suffered by the affected prison officers and their families cannot simply be wished away. The County Government must take responsibility and take immediate measures to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated,” Senator Murango stated.
