A devastating fire broke out in Manguo, a village on the outskirts of Nyahururu Town in Laikipia County. The fire, which started around 7 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025, quickly spread to several houses, leaving over 200 families homeless. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire began in one house and rapidly engulfed adjacent structures. Despite efforts by residents to salvage their belongings, the wooden structures were quickly consumed by the flames.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but initial investigations suggest it might have been caused by a candle in one of the houses. The Nyahururu fire department’s response was hampered by a lack of water in their fire engine, leading to criticism from residents who felt the county government had failed to provide adequate emergency services.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua visited the scene shortly after the fire and consoled the affected residents. He criticized the county government for its lack of preparedness and the firefighters’ inability to respond effectively. Senator Kinyua described the situation as disgraceful and called for the county government to acquire additional fire engines and station them in densely populated areas to ensure a swift response to future emergencies.
