Meru, Kenya — Several staff houses at the Government of Kenya (GK) Prison in Meru were destroyed by a fire on Tuesday night, leaving a number of prison wardens homeless and wiping out property of unknown value.

The fire broke out at around 11:00 p.m. within the prison compound and rapidly spread through timber-constructed houses occupied by prison staff, triggering panic and raising concerns over the safety and security of inmates.

Prison officers on duty said they were forced to battle the inferno for several hours after no fire engine arrived at the scene, despite a fire station being located less than one kilometre away.

“The fire station is very close, but no fire engine came. We had to struggle on our own using water and sand to put out the flames,” said one prison officer who requested anonymity.

According to prison authorities, all the affected houses were made of timber and were completely razed by the blaze.

“Unfortunately, nothing was salvaged,” said a senior prison officer, adding that the officers lost all their household belongings in the fire.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, although authorities say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause.

In the course of the incident, a female prison officer and her two children — including a six-month-old infant — were rescued unharmed. Prison authorities confirmed that all affected families were safely accounted for and that no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Following the incident, residents and prison staff have called on the county government to strengthen emergency response services, citing concerns over delayed fire response despite the proximity of firefighting facilities.

The affected officers are now appealing for assistance as they seek temporary shelter and support to rebuild their lives after the devastating loss.