A Nairobi woman is reeling in shock and heartbreak after her fast-food hotel, which she had poured her savings and dreams into just eight months ago, was engulfed in flames.

Carol Kinuthia, popularly known as Wanja Kay, was left devastated after a fire broke out in her fast-food joint, reducing the premises to charred remains.

Wanja told that the early morning fire is suspected to have started from a fryer that was left on by one of her employees.

Witnesses who operate businesses adjacent to her shop disclosed that they noticed thick black smoke coming from the shop.

Local shopkeepers and bystanders quickly sprang into action, attempting to put out the fire before it could spread to nearby businesses.

However, the blaze had already gotten out of hand by the time they tried to extinguish it. Luckily, there was no one inside.

“One of the lady employees left without switching off the fryer, which still had hot oil,” Wanja painfully recounted.

Wanja says she was alerted immediately and rushed to the scene on a motorbike, only to be met by a devastating sight.

“I dropped everything and jumped on a bike,” she said tearfully. “When I got there, my heart sank. I couldn’t believe it.”

She immediately called her mother and brother, who, along with her friends, rushed to the scene in a bid to salvage whatever they could from the smouldering ruins.

Wanja revealed that she had invested over KSh 500,000 into setting up the business, which was slowly picking up and earning loyal customers.

The fire, however, destroyed everything—from the electrical wiring system, commercial fryer, utensils, and kitchen stock, to bags of potatoes and litres of cooking oil.

The shop now also requires complete repainting and repair.

“It took everything in me to get that place up and running,” she said. “And now it’s all gone.”

As of the time of this report, the landlord has closed the premises, leaving Wanja to count her losses and contemplate her next steps.

In an attempt to rebuild from the ashes, Wanja has started an online fundraiser on M-Changa, hoping well-wishers will stand with her.

“I don’t know where to start,” she said. “But I know I’m not giving up.”

Kenyans have warmly comforted Wanja after the loss of her business to a fire. Here are some of the comments:

Gael Pleasant

"Real definition of 'you can sleep rich and wake up poor' stay humble and trust the process. Believe in God and you will rise again"

Christopher Mutahi

"So sad, she will pick up again, I can feel the pain!"

Phylis Juma said:

"I read somewhere the secret about hard times is that you have to go through it alone, feel it, and when the right time comes, you will heal, time heals everything, so sorry."

Mercie Wangari said:

"Allow yourself to be down at this stage. It's the season to be down. Take time to thank God for all the little things he did before. It is a painful journey. Ask God what he wants u to learn and if he can take u then, then go to the next step after this. It might be higher than where you were. Heal completely, the end tunnel is bright."

In another tragedy, a devastating fire in Kibera claimed the lives of a young family of five, sparking national grief and outrage.

The victims were a father, a mother, and their three children, who had relocated from Emuhaya to Nairobi in search of a better life.

Emuhaya Member of Parliament Omboko Milemba, promised to support the bereaved family during the grieving period.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke