BY MWINGI TIMES TEAM
Millions of residents in Kitui County were Monday morning treated to shocking reports that fire had razed down a section of the county’s treasury offices in Kitui town.
The shocking news went viral in the social media even as detectives at the county headquarters commenced a probe on the cause of the inferno that gutted down critical county offices including county finance, directorate of county economic planning, a records office and a national government County Statistics Office.
The mysterious fire incident, a second to burn down crucial county offices in a span of less than two years comes since Governor Charity Ngilu came into reign. The unfortunate suspected arson incident has hit at a time when the County Executive has been on the spot over unpaid June staff salaries and alleged claims of corruption. Last year Human Resource and Tourism, Culture and Sports CECM’s offices which were housed at the Tourist Hotel complex were consumed by fire whose cause is yet to be established.
Speaking to the media on Monday Kitui Central police boss Abdi Waqo confirmed the 2am fire, adding that detectives had commenced investigations to unravel the “strange” fire. “Fire experts are currently at the scene collecting forensic evidence to unravel the cause of the fire,” Mr Waqo said.
He said the area has been cordoned off to allow detectives collect samples from the debris and partly burnt records for analysis.
Deputy Governor Dr Wathe Nzau through a statement shared in the county official Facebook page said the county fire fighters responded and contained the raging flames. “The county fire brigade moved in and contained the fire. We are yet to establish the full extent of the damage,” the statement read in part.
Dr Nzau further revealed tha that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers have secured the scene and urged for speedy investigations into the cause of the fire.
But the county government position was faulted by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua who called for immediate arrest of the suspects. “I have spoken to the County Commissioner and the County head of AP. All the suspects must be rounded up. Somebody must take responsibility,” Mr Wambua said in a brief statement.
Interestingly, Kitui County Assembly Minority Leader John Mbaki Kisangau – the leader of government business in the House wondered why the fire incident struck at a time “when different leaders and I have been pressing the County Executive to come clean of among others the last financial year spending.”
The Yatta/Kwavonza MCA also called on the investigative agencies to expeditiously probe the inferno.
The County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Kilonzo (Athi) has condemned the incident and called on the governor and the County Treasury minister Mary Nguli to record statement with the police over the same.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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