30 houses reduced to ashes in night fire

Residents of Kiambuthi village in Embu Town on Wednesday woke up to find 30 houses in the village razed to ashes in a night fire.

According to the residents, the fire started at around 8:00 pm and spread out to houses in the area, destroying shops and businesses.

“I woke up to a loud bang only to find a lot of smoke coming from my bedroom window,” said an eyewitness.

According to the Embu County Government, the fire had spread to both timber and iron sheet houses by the time the county’s fire brigade services arrived the scene.

“By the time the firefighters came, the fire was long spread, and we ended up losing property,” said a witness.

The source of the fire remains unknown, as the residents seek other places to spend the night.

“We are now left homeless, I do not know where I will sleep at night,” said a resident.

Elsewhere, a family in Anole Village, Tana River County is searching for a 30-year-old woman who was reportedly attacked and killed by a crocodile in River Tana as she was fetching water on Christmas Eve.

The victim, identified as Rahima Gurachu, who is also a mother of four was killed on the spot but her remains are yet to be found.

“I was a few meters from her when she was fetching water when I saw the crocodile grabbing her, I tried to save her but I couldn’t,” narrated her mother.

Area residents now accuse Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) officials of failing to assist in the situation, claiming the case had been the third this year.

“Two children have perished in this same river this year and yet KWS has not done anything to redeem or even help in the search of her body,” said the mother.

Stories by Anthony Muchiro and Amos Sambu. Written by Atieno Mboya