A sombre mood has engulfed Mabatini Village in Bulapesa Ward, Isiolo County, following the tragic death of two young children who were killed in a devastating fire that destroyed their home alongside several other houses on Friday afternoon.
The children, aged four years and two-and-a-half years, are reported to have been inside the house when the fire broke out. Residents and local leaders said the inferno quickly spread across the compound, destroying twenty houses and leaving families counting heavy losses.
According to residents, the two children’s mother allegedly left them inside the house before going to work. The circumstances surrounding what happened before the fire broke out remain unclear, with authorities expected to establish the exact cause of the incident through ongoing investigations.
Bula Kati (A) Area Manager Wario Elgoi said the tragedy had left the community deeply shocked and called upon parents to be more responsible and avoid locking their children inside the house and leaving them there, in order to avert similar incidents in future.
The situation was made worse by strong winds, which residents said helped the fire spread rapidly from one structure to another. Within a short time, flames had engulfed several houses in the affected plot, leaving behind a trail of destruction, smoke, ashes and debris.
Several families were forced to watch helplessly as their homes and belongings were consumed by the fire. Household items, clothing and other basic possessions were destroyed, leaving the affected residents with little or nothing to salvage.
One of the affected tenants, Ms. Everlyne Kendi, said she was also away at work when the fire broke out. She said many of the tenants only returned to find their homes already destroyed, making it impossible for them to save their belongings.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Kendi appealed to well-wishers, government agencies and other members of the public to come to the aid of the affected families, saying many residents are now homeless and lack basic necessities.
The tragedy has also renewed calls for improved emergency response services in Isiolo County. Area Manager Wario Elgoi and other residents urged the Isiolo County Government to increase the number of functional firefighting engines and ensure that they are capable of responding quickly to emergencies across the county.
Some residents expressed anger and frustration over what they described as inadequate and slow response to fire emergencies. They questioned whether the county has sufficient firefighting equipment and resources to respond effectively when such disasters occur.
Residents said the latest incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to strengthen disaster preparedness, improve emergency response systems and ensure that firefighting equipment is strategically positioned to reach affected areas within the shortest possible time.
Beyond the loss of property, the death of the two children have left the community mourning and raised concerns about child safety during working hours. Parents and guardians have been urged to avoid leaving young children unattended at home, particularly where there may be potential fire hazards.
The bodies of the two children have since been taken to the mortuary at Isiolo County Referral Hospital.
Meanwhile, security agencies and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have commenced investigations to establish the circumstances and cause of the fire.
As affected families struggle to come to terms with the tragedy and begin rebuilding their lives, residents are appealing for immediate humanitarian assistance, while also demanding stronger and faster emergency response services to prevent another disaster of this magnitude.6
