OVER 200 people from Kamakwa area in Nyeri are sleeping in the cold after their rental houses caught fire on Saturday. The 40 rental timber houses caught fire around 11.40am and destroyed property worth thousands of shillings after reducing it to ashes.

The fire whose cause could not immediately be established was said to have been started in one of the houses near an electricity pole and spread quickly to other houses.

Residents led by Nyeri town parliamentary candidate Maina Mathenge joined the tenants in putting off the fire before fire fighters from Nyeri Municipal Council arrived.

However, despite their best efforts, it was futile as the fire spread very quickly due to strong winds and most had to contend with smoke inhalation.

Various Nyeri candidates later arrived and promised to help the affected families. They were governor hopeful Nderitu Gachagua, parliamentary candidate George Miatu and senator aspirant Mutahi Kagwe.

The candidates decried the slow response by government mechanisms saying they appear ill-prepared to fight disaster.Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi and Kenya Red Cross Society head Abbas Gullet promised to provide the affected families with food, blankets, tents and other basic necessities.Nobody was hurt during the incident.