Traders are counting losses after a fire burned down property worth millions in Doldol town, Laikipia North Sub County.
The cause of the fire that began on Wednesday at 10 p.m. remains unknown.
Due to the lack of fire engines in the area, the fire reduced seven major retail shops to ashes as residents watched helplessly.
Confirming the incident, Laikipia North Deputy County Commissioner Benard Odino said that the cause of the fire was not immediately established.
He noted that it destroyed one block with wooden structures before it was contained.
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According to the DCC, an investigation is being conducted to determine what started the fire.
Traders claimed they experienced significant losses due to economic hardships and the ongoing dry weather.
The tragedy, according to Ms. Helen Gathogo, director of Laikipia North One More Day for Children Safe House, was tragic and served as a reminder for the county government to build fire stations and put water bowsers on alert to avoid similar disasters in the future.
“It’s sad; women and children are suffering. People watched helplessly as the fire spread. Businesses have been lost, but I thank God no casualty was reported,” said Ms Gathogo.
Ms Gahogo pointed out that most residents were inside their homes at the time of the occurrence because the region was under a dusk-to-dawn curfew, as ordered by the government due to the banditry threat in Laikipia North.
She also urged well-wishers to help the victims rebuild their lives while encouraging the county government to teach communities how to put out fires. She lamented that they could have saved the situation if they had known how to extinguish the fire.
