Property of un- known value was reduced down to ashes after fire razed down houses at Slaughter Slum in Athi River town on Tuesday morning.

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Addressing the press at the scene, resident Daniel Mbevi who spoke on behalf of other victims said they lost all their households to the inferno.

Mbevi said majority of the residents did not salvage any of their property from the Mabati structures since they were out of their houses at work when the fire broke out.

The residents said they lost furniture, clothing, electronics, academic certificates, money, ATM cards, phones, food, cereals, bedding, books and cookery.

Mbevi said he also lost a motorbike in the fire that burnt down houses belonging to over twenty households.

He said more than 200 residents were affected hence women forced to spend night in the cold with their children.

Mbevi said the fire started from a house belonging to their land lady where two of her sons were fighting before it spread to the neighboring houses.

“There are rumors going around that one of the men hit a stove during the fight leading to the inferno,” said Mbevi.

He said attempts of the residents to put out the fire using water in buckets were futile leading to the houses burning to the ground.

Mbevi said fire brigade from Mavoko sub-county headquarters responded swiftly but only managed to contain it from spreading to other houses within the slum.

The victims called for quick intervention of local leaders, NGO’s, well-wishers and both national and Machakos governments.

Mbevi said they had got nowhere to seek refuge and nothing to claim ownership of after all were lost in the inferno.

He said there were no casualties which emanated from the incident apart from few minor injuries of victims while they were escaping from their houses to safety.