About 30 families left homeless as fire razes down houses in Embu West

An elderly woman who lost her belongings in the fire incident. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Angry residents have accused the County Government of Embu's Fire Department of negligence. This was after the unit delayed responding to the incident which happened 300 metres away.

A resident Nephat Kawiti noted that the firefighters responded to the fire late and it took the efforts of Boda Boda riders and house owners to put out the fire before spreading further.

"I was in the house when my neighbour called screaming and to my surprise, the neighbouring houses were engulfed in a fire that spread very fast, when the firefighters were called, they came late and without water," said Phyllis Ngera.

Families salvage whatever they could after a Fire gutted their houses at Majimbo village in Embu County. September 14, 2023[Murithi Mugo, Standard]

A form two student at Kamiu Secondary School Faith Ngatha said she had lost books, school uniform and everything only left a school uniform she was wearing before the fire incidence

Two months ago, Embu governor Cecily Mbarire interdicted some employees from the fire department for failing to respond to a fire incident where residents sought help from the neighbouring Kirinyaga County.