Confirming the incident, Meru Senior Assistant Commissioner Matthew Kimanzi said he was alerted to the fire at around 10:30 p.m. after receiving a distress call from the officer in charge of the prison facility.
According to Kimanzi, the fire spread rapidly, making it difficult for officers to control the flames. Prison authorities were forced to prioritize the evacuation of staff members as the blaze intensified.
“The fire was extremely intense and could not be contained easily. Our immediate concern was to ensure that everyone inside the affected houses was evacuated safely,” Kimanzi said.
Although the inferno caused extensive destruction to the residential structures, authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were recorded. All occupants managed to escape before the fire consumed the houses.
However, the affected prison staff suffered heavy losses, with personal belongings and household property completely destroyed in the incident.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), together with county police officials, visited the scene on Wednesday as investigations were launched to determine the cause of the fire. As of now, the origin of the blaze remains unknown.
Kimanzi has appealed to members of the public, humanitarian groups, and well-wishers to support the affected families as they work to rebuild their lives.
“We are appealing for any form of assistance to help those who lost their homes and property. Any support will go a long way in helping them recover from this tragedy,” he said.
The Meru prison fire occurred on the same day another major fire incident was reported in Nairobi’s Central Business District, where a blaze along Luthuli Avenue disrupted business operations and damaged several electronics shops.
The back-to-back fire incidents have renewed public concern over fire preparedness and emergency response, particularly in high-risk residential and commercial areas.
Authorities say investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
0 Comments