A family from Thumaita village in Gichugu, Kirinyaga county, is in distress after fire razed their semi-permanent house to the ground at around 4 am on February 16, 2026
Naftali Muriuki said he was awakened by extreme heat from the flames gutting the timber-made house.
The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the whole house, causing it to collapse.
However, Muriuki and his son were able to escape from the building without suffering injuries.
Efforts by the neighbours to put out the fire proved futile, and area residents were left to watch in shock as the fire consumed the house, together with everything in it.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
“There were two gas cylinders, a television set, and other things in the house,” Naftali Muriuki, the owner of the building, said.
He added, “I managed to walk out of the house in time wearing only a short that I had slept in. It’s a neighbour who has helped me with the clothes I am wearing now.”
A neighbour, Agnes Wambura, said she had something explode outside and alerted her husband.
The two stepped out of their house, and they saw a huge fire and rushed towards the scene.
“I heard an explosion outside, then heard someone scream twice, and that is when I woke my husband so that we could go and check what was going on,” she said.
Another area resident, Milka Muthoni, reports having been woken by screams, and after walking out, the fire was all over.
She says they were forced to watch the fire consume the house, as they had no means of putting out the fire.
They are now calling on well-wishers to assist the family, as everything, including important documents, was reduced to ashes.
“We were unable to rescue anything as we were overwhelmed by the huge fire. Even the clothes he (Naftali Muriuki) is wearing have been donated by a neighbour,” said Muthoni.
They are also calling for investigations to be conducted to establish the cause of the fire.
