Sonko Intervenes After Baby Sustained Injuries In Desperate Escape From Mathare Fire

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has come to the rescue of a one-and-a-half-year-old who was injured during the tragic Mathare fire.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 21, Sonko said the baby suffered eye injuries after she was thrown from the second floor to the ground by her mother in an attempt to escape the fire.

“Following yesterday's tragic fire incident in Mathare that claimed 6 lives, a mother attempted to save her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, baby Wesny, by throwing her from the 2nd floor to the ground, resulting in the child sustaining severe injuries to her eye.

“Regrettably, the mother did not survive the incident while the father couldn't walk due to the serious injuries he sustained,” read part of the statement.

Sonko said relatives and neighbors of the girl’s family walked from Mathare to his office to ask for assistance.

The ex-Nairobi governor immediately rushed the baby to Lions First Eye hospital, where she was examined and treated.

“We immediately took action and rushed her to Lions First Eye hospital, where she was examined and treated by doctors,” Sonko stated.

Further, he said the baby was breastfeeding before the death of her mother and his team provided sufficient milk, pampers, and foodstuffs to sustain the baby’s family for a few days.

The Mathare fire happened on Monday at around 2 AM in the Mathare B slums and left at least five people dead.

Nairobi Police Commander George Sedah said the inferno started from one of the iron sheet structures before it spread to the others.

The victims, who include three adults and two children, were sleeping when the fire broke out and killed them.

Four other locals sustained serious injuries during the fire and were taken to the local MSF hospital.

The blaze flattened at least eight iron sheet homes and two churches, leaving several families without shelter.