Kibra fire tragedy: More pain for victims' families as DNA testing to take a month

Families of the victims of the recent Kibera fire tragedy will have to endure a longer wait before laying their loved ones to rest.

Authorities began the DNA identification process on Thursday, and the procedure is expected to take between two weeks and a month - a wait that grieving families say is unbearably long.

As they grapple with the devastating loss, many families are also facing severe financial strain, as the resources mobilised through well-wishers and government support are rapidly depleting, adding to their burden.

They are now appealing to the government to expedite the identification process, saying a timely resolution would allow them to give their loved ones a dignified farewell.

Citizen TV visited the families of the Kibera fire victims as they made their way to the City Mortuary on Thursday to begin the harrowing process of DNA sampling.

This marks the start of identifying bodies that were burnt beyond recognition in the tragic inferno.

“Kitu inasumbua sana ni ile tunaambiwa kwamba DNA itachukua one month...” said Justo Omunyala.

Moses Okwokwo added: “Niliitiwa tu maiti ya watoto wangu. Hii muda ni mrefu sana.”

Among those hardest hit is the family of Judith Ambani, who lost five members in the inferno. For the grieving widow, the tragedy compounds an already painful chapter, having recently buried her firstborn child.

“DNA itachukua almost one month. Sijui nitakuwa kwa hali gani juu hata mimi niko kwa madawa," said Judith.

Juliana Wetere added: “Mnapomwona hapa si mjane... mtoto wake wa kwanza amemzika juzi, hata kidonda haijapona...”

Moses Okwokwo Eboso, who travelled from Western Kenya upon hearing the news, lost two of his children in the fire. Other members of his family are currently undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.

 “Mimi niko na watoto wawili kwa mortuary, wengine wako hospitali...” Okwokwo stated.

In Emuhaya, Vihiga County, sorrow engulfed the two neighbouring homes of Eboso and Ambani following the loss of seven members. Relatives, friends, and neighbours have gathered in mourning, struggling to come to terms with the devastating events of Saturday night.

As families cling to hope and brace for weeks of uncertainty, many are appealing to the government to expedite the DNA process and offer more support to help them give their loved ones a dignified farewell.