A second tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, March 3 night in Mradi, Embakasi, as fire razed a children’s home to ashes, leaving numerous children without shelter.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, shared the devastating news, underscoring the dire plight of the vulnerable children.
“Sad news as fire razed down a children’s Home in Mradi, Embakasi. The helpless kids have been left homeless. Continue praying for us in Embakasi East,” Babu stated.
The fire, whose cause is yet to be determined erupted around midnight, resulting in the complete destruction of the entire facility.
In a circulating 49 seconds video seen by The Kenya Times and shared by Babu Owino, the extent of the destruction became evident as a massive fire engulfed the premises.
The explosion resulted in a significant fire, displacing residents who sought refuge at the Embakasi Social Hall.
County Government and National Fire Interventions
This incident occurred shortly after Governor Johnson Sakaja visited firefighters who sustained injuries while responding to a collapsed wall in Kariobangi earlier in the day.
The governor expressed gratitude for the unwavering dedication of the firefighters and acknowledged the risks they face while responding to emergencies across the city.
“This afternoon, I visited two of our officers who were injured in Kariobangi after a wall collapsed during response to a fire incident and are recuperating in hospital. We support them and encourage all our valiant officers to keep doing all they can to save lives and property,” said Governor Sakaja.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, addressing the press during the earlier gas explosion incident, emphasized government’s commitment to providing relief beyond immediate shelter needs, with a focus on long-term support for the affected families.
Also Read: Govt to Pay Rent for Families Affected in Embakasi Fire
Nairobi County Disaster Management Officer Bramwell Simiyu confirmed that 761 individuals were impacted by the explosion, shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by Nairobi County firefighters, who respond to at least two fire incidents daily throughout the city.
Compensation of Fire Victims
Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir informed Members of Parliament that the National Disaster Committee (NDC) is overseeing the matter.
Chirchir clarified that the Energy department lacks the budget to address such concerns, emphasizing that the allocation for these issues falls under the purview of the NDC.
“In the government’s budget, we have allocated funds for such situations under the NDC. The Deputy President has announced that the victims will be compensated using the budget line specifically designated for assisting Kenyans affected by disasters,” Chirchir stated before the Senate Energy Committee.
Despite budgetary constraints, Chirchir assured MPs that officials in the NDC would actively pursue the matter to ensure affected families receive compensation.
In a parallel development, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has taken stringent measures in response to the Embakasi explosion incident.
Also Read: EPRA Reveals Details on Registration of Company Behind Embakasi Explosion
EPRA suspended operating licenses for 49 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) companies due to non-compliance.
An assessment audit of all 138 LPG plants in the country revealed that some were located within a hazardous radius of 200 meters from residential areas, posing a significant threat to residents.
Appearing before the Senate Energy Committee, Chirchir shed light on the existing gaps in surveillance, attributing them to the understaffing of the enforcement department.
Despite these challenges, Chirchir affirmed that actions would be taken to address the regulatory shortcomings.
