Petrol Blast Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction in Nairobi’s Demographic Surveillance Site

By Jonathan Odhong

“I have basically lost everything. My life has been turned upside down!” laments Catherine Wamaitha one of the Viwandani residents still trying to come to terms with life in the aftermath of the tragic fire blaze that nearly wiped out the entire Sinai village in Viwandani, Nairobi on the morning of September 12, 2011. For a day that started normally like any other, she still can’t comprehend how chaos straight from hell descended on the residents. The Sinai Village probably acquired its name from the Biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the 10 commandments engulfed in white clouds, however for the residents of Viwandani this cloud was black, smoky cloud of fire and death.

“On the day, I had woken up and gone around my chores for the house as usual, I sent my three children to school and then at about 8 am I stepped out of the house to find my neighbors in a mad rush for fuel which was flowing as usual from one of the Kenya Pipeline ducts. This was a usual occurrence to me because my house is about 10 meters from this pipe. So Like everybody else I dashed out to see everyone dashing about to get bigger containers to store the precious commodity, this time it was overflowing and everyone thought they could get some.

Redcross help in removing the charred remains of the unfortunate residents caught in the inferno.

As I got closer to the duct the strong stinging and nauseating smell of the fumes made me step back and because of my allergy I walked away. As I walked off I noticed a few people had already been intoxicated by the fumes and some were high while others had fainted. I walked off thinking this wasn’t the usual diesel fuel that we had time and time again carried off and sold to Matatu drivers for Kshs. 50 per litre. As I later came to confirm, this was super petrol. When I had walked a distance of about 250 meters the first blast came, and then the second. I ran as far as I could. I still cannot believe I am alive! I was saved by my allergy to strong scents! Although all my belongings are reduced to ashes, at least my husband and children who were away at the time are safe and sound”.

The fire which claimed over a hundred lives didn’t discriminate by age as both the young and old bear scars of the tragedy. Samwel Wanga, a 13-year old school boy was yet to resume school after the teachers strike had been called-off by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT). Earlier that day, his older brother had left home for school to check if learning had resumed.

Samwel Wanga (in a blue sweater) being escorted away from the scene of the fire by his mother Anne Odemba. Samwel barely escaped with his life.

Little did he know that this would make the difference between him and his brother, one which would see one of the brothers miss death by a whisker as the other has a regular “boring day” in school”. I was playing with my friends and then suddenly noticed the adults running towards the pipe. I guess curiosity got the better of me and I followed. One of my neighbors, I can’t remember her name, she told me to move closer and get some. Just as I was getting closer the first blast went off and I started running away. I can’t clearly remember the rest of the details”.

Samwel’s mother Ms Anne Odemba, a single mother of two is clearly stung by the narration her son gives of the ordeal. She was still in her house which is a good distance away from the scene of fire when all this was unfolding. All she can mutter amidst the sorrow is “thanks to God” for the fact that Samwel sustained non-fatal burns and is alive.

The Sinai fire incident brings into focus the difficulties of life in Nairobi’s informal settlements which APHRC’s research has continually focused on. Various research studies from the Center have invariably pointed out to the fact that every day is an emergency in the slums from the state of health, education to the living conditions as well as the many hazards the residents are exposed to. This therefore requires a multi-pronged approach by all stakeholders to change the status quo.