In the early hours of Friday morning, a devastating fire swept through Jomo Kenyatta Children’s Home in Embu Town, leaving more than 30 children with disabilities homeless.
Fortunately, the 12 children present at the time of the fire were safely evacuated, while others were away on mid-term break.
The children’s home, which has served the community for 48 years under the management of Kenya Red Cross Embu Branch, sustained severe damage as the fire originated near an office close to the main entrance and quickly spread to nearby structures, including the kitchen and dormitory.
Martin Kagunda, the KRS County Coordinator for Embu and Kirinyaga, coordinated efforts to rescue the children and salvage some belongings amid estimated losses totaling millions of shillings.
The aftermath of the fire has left authorities grappling with immediate challenges. With the home now uninhabitable, there is uncertainty regarding temporary accommodation for the displaced children, especially as others were expected to return after the mid-term break.
The incident has raised concerns about the preparedness of the Embu County Government in disaster response, as all three of its fire engines were reportedly out of commission.
The neighboring Tharaka Nithi County intervened by sending two fire extinguishers, underscoring the inter-county cooperation during emergencies.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, aiming to determine how the blaze started and spread with such rapidity.
Authorities are keen to establish the circumstances to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of vulnerable populations.
The community and well-wishers have been urged to support the affected children and the staff of the children’s home during this challenging time.
Efforts are underway to provide immediate relief and plan for the children’s future accommodation needs while reconstruction plans for the damaged facilities are being considered.
As the investigation progresses, local authorities and organizations continue to assess the full extent of the damage and formulate comprehensive recovery strategies.
The resilience and support of the community will play a crucial role in rebuilding and restoring normalcy for the children affected by this tragic event.
