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By Wasike Elvis
A suspected gas explosion in Moi’s Bridge, Uasin Gishu County, on Saturday morning triggered a devastating fire that destroyed property worth millions of shillings. The inferno engulfed several businesses and shops in the busy market area, leaving residents in panic as fire engines raced to the scene to contain the blaze.
Witnesses reported that the fire started when a retail LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) shop suddenly burst into flames, followed by multiple explosions. The explosion caused significant damage to surrounding businesses and structures in the area.
Firefighters from the Uasin Gishu County government were quick to respond to the emergency, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby residential areas. Their prompt actions were crucial in averting further destruction, although several businesses were completely gutted.
In the aftermath of the disaster, area Member of Parliament David Kiplagat expressed his sympathies to the affected business owners. "I empathize with all the affected business owners who have lost properties worth millions of shillings following a fire breakout today at dawn in Moi’s Bridge town," Kiplagat said. He further encouraged fire extinguishers to continue their work and praised the efforts of the public, who came together to help contain the situation. "We thank the members of the public for the teamwork they have shown since dawn. More details will follow," he added.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii also extended his deepest condolences to the traders who lost their businesses in the devastating fire. "As part of the North Rift Economic Bloc, we have always come together in times of crisis. I commend the firefighters for their swift and coordinated response efforts," Governor Bii stated in his message of solidarity. He emphasized the county’s commitment to ensuring such incidents are better managed in the future.
"We are working towards upgrading Moi’s Bridge to a municipality, and as part of this development, establishing a fire substation will be a top priority. This will enhance our emergency response capabilities and better protect the growing businesses in the region," Governor Bii noted.
The fire has left many traders devastated, and efforts to assess the full extent of the damage are ongoing. Local authorities have pledged to support the affected businesses in rebuilding, and community leaders are calling for improved safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Moi’s Bridge fire highlights the pressing need for better infrastructure and preparedness, especially in rapidly developing towns. As the community recovers from this tragedy, plans to bolster emergency services and safeguard local businesses are expected to move forward swiftly.