Fire razes down Sh5 million bungalow in Nakuru

Nakuru: Shock and disbelief has engulfed a family in Kiamunyi Estate in Nakuru town after their Sh5 million home was on Thursday razed down by fire.

The fire whose source is yet to be established is said to have started from a store house outside the main four- bed roomed bungalow. It later consumed a semi- permanent house and a water tank.

A steel-gated garage which hosted the family's car was also burnt down.

Police said they are still investigating the incident and they are yet to apprehend any suspect.

"The matter has been reported to us but we are still investigating the incident," said Nakuru OCPD Bernard Kioko.

Philip Limo, the owner of the home could not come to terms with the loss on Thursday. He said he had invested in the property in his lifetime.

"I have lost everything. My children are left with only the clothes they wore before the fire broke. We are forced to beg for a sleeping place from friends. My family is traumatized and they require counseling," he told the Standard on Thursday at his home.

Limo told the standard that his family has been attacked three times by armed robbers in 2015. He said his wife was last week assaulted by three unknown people who escaped.

"She was preparing food in the kitchen in the evening, when three men appeared from the dark and beat her. She screamed and they ran away. Our house was also broken into on Sunday just three days before the fire," he said.

He said he moved to the house in 2010 after four years of construction.

The fire broke out at 4pm but there was nobody in the house as Limo said it was only two hours after he left to pick something from town. He had left his herd's boy back at home.

Jospeh Onserio, a neighbour said a fire engine arrived four hours  later after the fire had destroyed the house. He said their efforts to put it off was hampered by lack of water supply in Kiamunyi and other major estates in Nakuru. Water is the major problem within Nakuru town since 2009.

"The county government should consider adding another fire engine. This family now requires material and counseling support," he said.