Over 200 families in Mathare Constituency have received government relief aid following two devastating fires that razed homes in Kiamaiko and Mabatini villages. The twin incidents destroyed 110 homes in Kiamaiko and another 101 in Mabatini, leaving hundreds homeless and at least one person dead, reportedly from electrocution.
On Monday, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, led the intervention, distributing food, bedding, and other essential items to the victims.
“No Kenyan should be left to suffer alone in the face of tragedy. We are here to walk with you until you get back on your feet,” said Ruku, assuring continued support through the State Department for Special Programmes. He emphasised the importance of disaster preparedness and swift response in restoring dignity and hope to affected communities.
Preliminary investigations have linked the fires to illegal electricity connections, open flames, and unsafe handling of gas cylinders. Many residents lost all their belongings, including crucial personal documents. To address this, Ruku directed Huduma Centre staff in Eastleigh to establish a service tent at the Deputy County Commissioner’s office, enabling victims to replace lost documents more easily.
He further engaged the Kenya National Examinations Council to facilitate the replacement of academic certificates for affected individuals, with verification provided by local administrators.
“This government is committed to transformative service delivery that directly touches lives at the grassroots,” Ruku said, outlining plans to collaborate with other ministries on sustainable housing and livelihood programmes for the displaced families.
He also reiterated the ministry’s focus on bringing services closer to citizens through the Huduma Smart Serikalini initiative, ensuring government support reaches those in need without bureaucratic delays.
As the community begins the long process of recovery, Ruku’s visit underscored the government’s role not just in emergency relief but also in long-term rehabilitation, aiming to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and strengthen safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
