Fire spreads through Kisii County offices

Property worth millions of shillings went up in smoke in a fire that razed down the Kisii County Assembly chambers on Friday afternoon.

The cause of fire was not immediately established.

Governor James Ongwae and Speaker David Kombo said authorities will conduct investigation into the incident.

The fire broke out when ward reps were having a meeting with the Ombudsman team at Ufanisi Hotel in Kisii.

“The whole assembly chambers is burnt. I do not know who or what caused it. I am informed by those who were here that electricity was not there since morning and when it came, that is when the fire might have started,” said Mr Kombo.

The county assembly building houses the Kisii County government offices.

Firefighters from the devolved unit helped save property after managing to put out the fire.

There was panic as staff scattered for safety.

Mr Kombo said they had lost millions of shillings’ worth of property and called on relevant authorities to carry out forensic enquiry on what caused the fire.

“We do not have an assembly now. This is the wrong term when we have Covid-19, a time we need to discuss how to help our people curb coronavirus spread,” said Mr Kombo.

“We will have to get expert advice on what happened,”  the governor said as he commended the firefighting team for quick response.

He said he had ordered the area cordoned for investigations purposes.

“We thank God that no injury has been reported. No documents have been burned,” said the county chief as he dispelled rumours that someone may have started the fire to destroy some documents crucial for investigation.