Embu family to spend night in the cold after fire destroyed their home

The fire which broke out on Tuesday afternoon, spread rapidly burning down the five-roomed timber house belonging to Mr. Robert Ndwiga.

Residents said that nothing was salvaged from the house.

According to the family, efforts to contain the fire were hampered by lack of proper fire-fighting equipment.

A child who was heading home from school was the first to notice fire, and went ahead to alert neighbours.

Ndwiga's mother, Mama Joyce Wangithi, said the incident had devastated the family.

"I was at a neighbouring coffee factory when I heard news of the fire. I rushed to the scene only to find that the fire had spread," said Mama Wangithi

"I don't understand how the fire started since my grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law were not at home at the time the fire started," she said.

According to the residents, the county fire department did not respond to their distress call.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established as residents are now calling upon other villagers to come together and help the family.