Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has vowed to punish fire fighting officers over what she termed as laxity in putting out the fire that razed down a section of county offices on Sunday morning.
Speaking when she visited the inferno's scene on Tuesday, the governor said it took too long for the officers to put out the fire.
Ngilu said she was waiting for a full investigation report before acting.
She noted that key documents and property would have been saved if the officers had coordinated well in extinguishing the inferno.
“We are going to study the investigation report and take appropriate action on officers who might have 'slept' on their job,” Ngilu said.
Ngilu said she had asked the fire department director to write a report on how the exercise was coordinated.
She denied claims that the county's disaster management was wanting.
Ngilu said the fire department was contacted immediately the fire broke out at around 12 am and wondered why it took the brigade too long to contain it.
She said some key documents relating to the charcoal and sand harvesting ban that has created storm were destroyed in the fire.
The fire razed down several offices housed in the Tourism building in Kitui town.
The County's ministries of Environment, Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs are among the offices that were razed down.
Investigations to establish the cause of the inferno is ongoing.
On Monday, Kitui senator Enoch Wambua questioned the county’s disaster management preparedness.
Wambua called for thorough probe into the inferno and stern action taken if 'foul play' is suspected.
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