Mother mourns three children killed in Embakasi inferno

A mother in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Embakasi is mourning the death of her three children, who perished in a fire on Monday night.

Evelyne Koneli was out at work when the fire broke out at around 8pm, consuming everything in its path. The fire left 70 others homeless and also damaged a school and a church, destroying numerous homes and properties.

Struggling to make sense of the tragic events that shattered her life, Koneli, speaking to Citizen TV, noted that her ordeal began at around 9 p.m. when she noticed the presence fire engines in the area. She was at work at the time.

"I asked one of my colleagues where the fire engines were going and she said some houses were burning in St. James area. I left immediately because that is where I lived," she said.

By the time Koneli arrived home, there was nothing left; the fire had consumed everything.

She then began searching for her three missing children, who had been home alone while she was at work: Mitchelle Ikunza, a Form Two student; Bellamy Chinaida, a Grade 2 student; and Delvin Myles, who was in playgroup.

Her hopes were soon dashed when she received a call informing her that the body of her daughter had been found by rescuers.

"The remains of my other children were later discovered," she said.

The bodies were moved to Nairobi Funeral Home as the family commenced plans for burial in Kakamega County.

Approximately 70 other people were affected by the blaze, which destroyed their homes and properties. St. James Academy, a private school in the area with 260 pupils, also suffered significant damage, as the fire destroyed everything at the school.

"Everything I owned was destroyed in the inferno. I don't even have shoes. We had a loud bang before the inferno erupted," Purity Mwongele, a victim, said.

"We lost lockers, books and everything as a school," Hellen Anyango, a Teacher at St. James Academy, added.

"The fire engines took an hour to arrive here," Eric Ambuche, another victim, added.

Residents are now appealing to the county government to rehabilitate feeder roads in informal settlements for easier access by fire engines.