Fire destroyed hay and property worth at least Ksh400,000 at Mutithi village unit 4 in Mwea West sub-county, Kirinyaga County.
Mary Njeri, a witness, said the fire started on Tuesday night at around 6 pm.
However, due to a lack of water, villagers had a difficult time putting out the fire.
“Our rivers have dried up due to the prolonged dry spell and we had to helplessly look at the fire razing hay,” Njeri said.
Police from Kiandegwa police post have launched investigations into the cause of the fire.
Another witness, Peter Gichangi, said the fire reduced hay to ashes.
“Firefighters from the county government of Kirinyaga tried to put out the fire,” Gichangi said.
The fire was finally put out on Wednesday morning at 8 am.
Wamumu chief Godfrey Mithamo said firefighters arrived on Tuesday night at 7:30 pm.
“They have tried as they were attending to another fire incident at Kiangai in Ndia constituency,” he said.
A section of residents faulted the county government for having the only fire station in Kerugoya.’
Mary Njeri, a resident, said, “We are asking the county government of Kirinyaga to have a fire station in every ward because they are taking too long to arrive when there are fire incidents.”
Mithamo lauded residents’ efforts to put out the fire.