Huge fire guts Nairobi factory
Fire-fighters put out a fire that burnt most of the materials at the Kenafric Industries in Ruaraka, Nairobi on November 7, 2009. The cause of the fire was not immediately established. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI
A fierce fire Saturday destroyed property worth thousands of shillings at a factory in Nairobi.
Rubber products such as slippers and open shoes were consumed by fire at Kenafric Industries godowns in Ruaraka.
According to a manager at the factory, Mr Sohin Shah, the cause of the fire was could not be immediately established as the factory was closed.
“We cannot tell what exactly caused the fire” he told journalists. “Lucky enough it is good that we have recorded no injuries. Everybody is fine.”
He said he was alerted by one of the guards when the fire had engulfed almost half of the shoe products in the factory’s dumping yard.
But local residents said the fire was a deliberate attempt to destroy the products, a claim Mr Shah denied.
“They burn this things every year. This is not new” said a resident Mr Timothy Kiarie. “We are used to it. The fire was deliberate."
The fire which started shortly after 10.30 a.m was eventually put off by a combined force of firemen from the Kenya Army, General Service Unit and G4s.
The Nairobi City Council fire department said it had no fire engine.
According to City Deputy fire Officer, Mr James Ngugi, all the fire engines in are currently being serviced.
“It is true we don’t have enough fire engines. We are currently using only one vehicle. The rest six are all broken down," he said.
