Nairobi: A family in Kanunga, Ndumberi Ward, Kiambu County, has been left in shock following a fire incident that claimed the life of a 48-year-old man, identified as David Gitau. The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, with residents saying they noticed the incident at about 4 a.m. before rushing to the scene to respond to the emergency.
According to Kenya News Agency, by the time the fire was contained, it was too late to rescue Gitau. The Kiambu County Fire and Rescue team was commended for quick response to the incident and managing to put out the fire, preventing it from spreading to neighboring structures.
Lucy Kimani, a sister to the deceased, appealed to the authorities to investigate the cause of the fire. Kimani said the family was going through a difficult moment following the death of their loved one and called for support to enable them to accord Gitau a decent send-off. ‘We are appealing to the authorities to help us establish what caused the fire and support us as we prepare to lay our loved one to rest,’ Kimani said.
The body of Gitau was removed from the scene by officers from Kanunga Police Station and transferred to St Teresa Hospital, where it was preserved pending a post-mortem examination. Police are expected to undertake investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the fire and determine its cause.
The incident has renewed concerns among residents over the need for heightened vigilance and quick response to fire emergencies, particularly in residential areas where rescue efforts can be difficult especially at night. The family is now awaiting the outcome of the post-mortem and investigations as they make arrangements to bid farewell to Gitau.
