In a statement released on Thursday, December 11, Babu claimed that the Nairobi County Fire Brigade arrived at the scene nearly six hours after the blaze began, despite numerous calls for help from residents.
According to him, the engines that eventually showed up did not have enough water to contain the flames, leaving residents to battle the inferno on their own.
Babu said the delayed response resulted in the tragic death of a six-year-old child and the destruction of roughly 2,000 homes.
“Yesterday in Mathare, we witnessed a heartbreaking tragedy. A young child lost his life as the fire raged with no help from the county government. Fire engines came hours later and could not put out the blaze because they had no water. Residents say not a single fire engine arrived in time,” he stated.
The legislator added that families had lost everything—documents, clothes, and household items—leaving thousands homeless within minutes.
Babu said the delayed response resulted in the tragic death of a six-year-old child and the destruction of roughly 2,000 homes.
“Yesterday in Mathare, we witnessed a heartbreaking tragedy. A young child lost his life as the fire raged with no help from the county government. Fire engines came hours later and could not put out the blaze because they had no water. Residents say not a single fire engine arrived in time,” he stated.
The legislator added that families had lost everything—documents, clothes, and household items—leaving thousands homeless within minutes.
He expressed sympathies to the affected families and pledged to push for stronger emergency systems in Nairobi.
“The pain and frustration felt by the community cannot be described. People feel abandoned. This county must be reset and managed in a way that protects its citizens,” he added.
The fire erupted on Wednesday morning, December 10, sending residents into panic as dense smoke and flames swept through the Kianda section of Mathare. The informal settlement’s closely packed structures allowed the fire to spread quickly.
Shortly after the fire started, the Kenya Red Cross issued an alert confirming that the Nairobi Fire Brigade was at the scene and had begun efforts to contain the flames.
“A fire outbreak has been reported in Mlango Kubwa, Mathare. The Nairobi Fire Brigade is currently on site, and attempts to extinguish the fire are underway,” the Red Cross said.
Initial witness accounts suggest the fire may have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, but authorities are still investigating the cause.
The Wednesday morning inferno has renewed debate about Nairobi County’s capacity to handle emergencies, especially in densely populated informal settlements.
“The pain and frustration felt by the community cannot be described. People feel abandoned. This county must be reset and managed in a way that protects its citizens,” he added.
The fire erupted on Wednesday morning, December 10, sending residents into panic as dense smoke and flames swept through the Kianda section of Mathare. The informal settlement’s closely packed structures allowed the fire to spread quickly.
Shortly after the fire started, the Kenya Red Cross issued an alert confirming that the Nairobi Fire Brigade was at the scene and had begun efforts to contain the flames.
“A fire outbreak has been reported in Mlango Kubwa, Mathare. The Nairobi Fire Brigade is currently on site, and attempts to extinguish the fire are underway,” the Red Cross said.
Initial witness accounts suggest the fire may have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, but authorities are still investigating the cause.
The Wednesday morning inferno has renewed debate about Nairobi County’s capacity to handle emergencies, especially in densely populated informal settlements.
