Tragic Fire Claims Life of Nine-Year-Old Girl in Limuru
The residents were angered that the chronic water shortage has made it difficult for them to promptly respond to such cases.
Confirmation of the incident, Limuru Sub-County Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Peter Alenga termed the fire as tragic and avoidable. Photo/courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
There was a gloomy atmosphere in Rironi village in Limuru, Kiambu County, following the death of a nine-year-old girl in a fire that destroyed her parents’ home on Friday evening. The tragic event happened when the little girl, a student at Rironi Primary School, was home alone.
The girl’s parents, the residents explained, had gone to attend a neighbor’s funeral a few houses from their residence. Within a matter of minutes, the house was engulfed in flames and, before the neighbors could respond, it destroyed the three-roomed house and trapped the minor inside. The neighbors failed to reach the house near enough to save her before the house caught fire.
Eye witnesses on the ground narrated how efforts to extinguish the fire were futile due to a dire water shortage in the area. The neighbors attempted to put out the fire with earth and buckets of water brought from a distant source, but these were also futile efforts. They also faulted the delayed reaction from firefighters, stating that by the time they arrived, the house was completely burned down.
The residents were angered that the chronic water shortage has made it difficult for them to promptly respond to such cases. They called on the Kiambu County Government to improve water supply and equip fire response teams sufficiently and within reach, especially in rural areas like Rironi.
Confirmation of the incident, Limuru Sub-County Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Peter Alenga termed the fire as tragic and avoidable. He urged parents and guardians to be even more vigilant, especially during holidays when children are home for long hours. “We are urging parents to stop leaving young children unattended. This will help avoid such tragic incidents,” Alenga said.
Police have since launched investigations to determine the true cause of the fire. Initial investigations are that it may have resulted from an electrical short circuit or a cooking stove, but the authorities are holding out for a complete report from firefighters.
The body of the child was carried to a local mortuary while the family and community are still in shock from the gruesome loss. The residents have since been left mourning and calling for tighter safety measures and improved emergency response to avoid loss of life and property in the future.
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