“I Lost Everything in Minutes”
When Wycliffe Olumi left his home in Madoya, Huruma, that evening, he never imagined it would be the last time he saw his wife and child alive.
Moments later, screams filled the air. A gas cylinder explosion had triggered a massive fire that spread quickly through the crowded iron-sheet houses of the settlement.
Wycliffe rushed back — but it was too late. His home was engulfed in flames, and his family trapped inside.
“My daughter called crying, saying the house was burning and her mother was still inside,” he recalled. “Then the line went silent.”
🔥 A Night of Horror in Huruma
Neighbours tried desperately to fight the fire using buckets of water and sand, but the blaze was too strong. By the time firefighters arrived, much of the area was already destroyed.
The tragedy left several people injured and many families homeless. For Wycliffe, the pain was unbearable — his wife died in the fire, and his young daughter passed away later while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“Everything I owned was gone — my family, my home, my future,” he said.
💔 Surviving the Unthinkable
In the aftermath, Wycliffe sat among the ashes of what used to be his house. Around him, neighbours wept and searched for loved ones. Some found only memories.
Local leaders and well-wishers have since called for stricter safety regulations in informal settlements, especially regarding gas cylinder use and emergency response times.
Residents say the tragedy could have been prevented if authorities had acted sooner.
“Fire engines arrived late. If they came earlier, maybe more people would have survived,” said one neighbour.
🙏 A Community in Mourning, A Man Rebuilding
Wycliffe now lives on borrowed strength — supported by neighbours and kind strangers. Relief groups have donated food, blankets, and clothes, but no one can replace what he lost.
Still, he remains hopeful.
“I will rebuild,” he said softly. “I will live for the ones I lost.”
The Huruma fire serves as a grim reminder of how quickly life can change — and why Kenya must do more to protect its most vulnerable communities.
