This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
On a fateful Sunday evening in August 2019, a mysterious fire swept through the official residence of Homa Bay County Commissioner Herman Shambi, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
According to Shambi, who was at home with his family at the time, the fire started in one of the bedrooms before rapidly spreading to other rooms, fueled by strong smoke and flames.
Despite the overwhelming inferno, Shambi confirmed that no one was injured in the blaze, but everything in the house was reduced to ashes, including important documents and the children's books.
Shambi's family had only recently moved into the house, having transferred from Nyeri to Homa Bay County, and were still settling in.
The fire also highlighted the county's lack of a functional fire engine, making it impossible to fight the inferno effectively.
Investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the fire, with Shambi suggesting that it might have been caused by an electrical fault.
