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Nairobi slum fire claims eight lives – PHOTOS

By NYABOGA KIAGE September 1st, 2018 1 min read

Eight people were on Friday night burnt to death in a fire incident in Silanga slums in Kibera, Nairobi.

The victims included a pregnant woman and a child who were trapped in the fire which locals say spread very quickly.

Ms Jane Auma, a resident, told Nairobi News that she was woken up by screams only to realise that some houses in the neighbourhood were on fire.

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Silanga slums residents sift through what remained of their houses that were gutted by fire. PHOTO | COURTESY

“I walked up and joined the people who tried to put off the fire. We were not lucky as we could not even save some of those who were trapped in the houses,” she said.

Another resident, Humphrey Michira, said that rescuers had a hard time trying to put out the fire.

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Rescuers and police officers at the scene of the fire that gutted houses and claimed several lives at Silanga slums. PHOTO | COURTESY

He lamented the county government’s disaster management team slow response to disaster.

“It is time the county government improves its response team. Lives and property could have been saved today,” he said.