Fire Destroys 21 Staff Houses at Kerugoya Prison in Kirinyaga

A fire at Kerugoya Prison in Kirinyaga County destroyed 21 staff houses and personal belongings worth thousands of shillings, raising fresh concerns over the county's firefighting capacity.

The blaze broke out at the prison staff quarters, where wooden houses were engulfed by flames before firefighters from the Kirinyaga County Government arrived at the scene.

The firefighting team, led by Peter Muriithi, moved quickly to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to additional buildings.

"We acted very swiftly and it is due to our effectiveness that the fire did not destroy everything," Muriithi said.

He said a clean-water vehicle played a crucial role in helping firefighters bring the situation under control.

21 Houses Destroyed

Kirinyaga County Police Commander Mohamed Jire confirmed the incident, saying 21 houses were destroyed in the fire.

Several prison officers lost personal belongings in the blaze, although authorities said the prompt response helped prevent further destruction.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have been caused by a candle that was left burning in the morning.

Authorities have not indicated whether anyone was injured in the incident.

Concerns Over Firefighting Capacity

The incident has renewed concerns among local leaders over the availability of adequate firefighting equipment in Kirinyaga County.

Leaders criticized the county government for what they described as delays in establishing a functional fire brigade despite funds having been allocated for firefighting equipment.

Kerugoya Ward MCA Eric Muchina said the County Assembly had allocated Ksh. 50 million for firefighting equipment.

However, he questioned why the county continues to rely on water bowsers to respond to emergencies instead of using dedicated fire engines and equipment.

"This is not the first incident," Muchina said, highlighting concerns over the county's preparedness to respond to fires.

Calls for Better Emergency Preparedness

The Kerugoya Prison fire has once again placed emergency response capacity in Kirinyaga under scrutiny.

Local leaders are now calling for the county government to ensure that funds allocated for firefighting are used to establish and equip a fully functional fire brigade.

The incident also serves as a reminder of the risks faced by residents and public institutions when firefighting resources are limited.

As authorities assess the extent of the losses, affected prison officers are left to deal with the destruction of their homes and personal property, while questions remain over whether Kirinyaga has adequate equipment to respond effectively to future emergencies.