Eastleigh

Fatal blaze in Blue Estate claims one life, leaves three injured and hundreds displaced

After the fire was extinguished, some of those affected salvaged whatever they could. Photo: Abdirahman Khalif

By Abdirahman Khalif | Thursday, June 27, 2024

Gas cylinders in adjoining homes exploded, causing the fire to spread quickly and overwhelm the residents.

A fire broke out early Thursday morning in Blue Estate, Pumwani Ward, killing one person and injuring three others.

The fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. and was brought under control an hour later. Witnesses stated that the fire started in a house renowned for selling beer. Gas cylinders in adjoining homes exploded, causing the fire to spread quickly and overwhelm the residents.

Senior Chief Stephen Wachira of Shauri Moyo stated that the fire affected six blocks, impacting 106 households and displacing 426 people.

Kennedy Ouma, one of the affected residents, described being awakened by wails and cries. Initially, he thought the noise was from protesters against the Finance Bill. As the noise intensified and his house heated up, he rushed outside and saw the building next to him engulfed in flames. Mothers and children were outside, crying and wailing.

"I went back to try and save what I could but it was too late. I only saved myself," said Ouma.

He lost all his possessions, including clothes and household items, and now has nowhere to go.

Jane Karanja, a mother of five was sleeping in her shop, which also served as her home, when the fire began.

Jane Karanja, whose shop and house were set ablaze at Blue Estate in Pumwani Ward. Photo; Abdirahman Khalif

Awakened by the noise of her neighbors, she saw the building on fire and immediately evacuated her children.

"My children were the most important. I took them to the neighbours, but by the time I was going back, everything was already in flames," said Jane.

She lost both her home and her shop, which was her main source of income.

"Yesterday I was a shop owner with a good life. Now I am more of a street family. I have no home, clothes, or food," she said.

Frederick Ongalo, the vice chairman of Blue Estate, informed The Eastleigh Voice that the body of the deceased man was taken by police officers from Shauri Moyo Police Station.

Victims of the Blues Estate fire try to salvage the little they can. Photo: Abdirahman Khalif

He stated that the majority of the residents whose homes were burned down are now homeless, however some have been housed by neighbours. Pregnant ladies and families with infants have lost their homes.

Ongalo assessed the damage he sustained at roughly three million shillings.

"Constructing a brick house here costs around Sh800,000 and the houses affected are four, meaning the cost is more than three million shillings," he said.

Residents are now calling on the county and national governments for assistance as they have nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep.

Joyce Ngaro, a community activist, underlined the difficulties experienced by Blue Estate residents in recent months, including floods, demolitions, and now this fire.

"People here have suffered greatly in recent months, from floods to demolitions and now this fire. The government must come to our rescue," Ngaro stated.

She also criticised the firefighters for being late, claiming that if they had arrived sooner, more items could have been saved.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.