By Agnes Orang’o
As learning is set to resume next week after the midterm break, several students from Bondeni village in Athiriver, Machakos County may be unable to resume school.
This is after a raging fire engulfed over 50 rented ‘mabati’ houses leaving over 100 people in the cold.
The locals told the press that nothing was salvaged as some of them were away on work when the tragedy struck.
Joyce Tatu, a mother of five narrated that she is unsure of her children going back to school like the others because most of their things went up in flames.
“Everything has been reduced to ashes I’m not sure if my children will go back to school because there are no books, uniforms, food, or even a place to sleep. I was given flour by a well-wisher to cook something for them as I think about what to do next. We only have the clothes we are wearing,” said Tatu while fighting tears.
“I have five children and four of them study at Medical Academy and the other one is in high school,” she added.
She said that the fire broke out as she was out fetching water and could not recover anything but she managed to save her kids.
The area chief, Cecilia Nzioka, confirmed the incident stating that its cause is still a mystery.
She noted that 37 houses were burnt to the ground while fourteen were left inhabitable.
The locals are now pleading to well-wishers to help them with amenities as they figure out their next move.
“I have nothing, my documents, clothes and everything I owned is gone,” said another resident.
