A cloud of mystery surrounds Ruiru, Kiambu County, following the unexplained disappearance of a furniture store worker after a devastating fire broke out six weeks ago. The incident, which gutted part of the high-value Modern Furniture Pacific shop on December 18, has raised questions after bones were discovered at the scene—claimed by the store’s management to be those of a dog, a claim vehemently disputed by the missing worker’s family.
Joseph Ng’ang’a, who was on duty during the fire, has not been seen since, leading his family to suspect he perished in the blaze. They accuse the store’s management of a cover-up, questioning why no injuries or fatalities were initially reported and why the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Although investigators classified the recovered bones as canine remains, Ng’ang’a’s family has rejected these findings, demanding transparency. During a demonstration at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, his sister, Wairimu Muhia, challenged the authorities:
“They claimed the bones belonged to a dog, but how did they determine that? Which lab conducted the tests? Who from our family was consulted to verify this?”
Modern Furniture Pacific maintains that no human lives were lost and insists that police crime scene investigators confirmed the bones were from a dog. However, Ng’ang’a’s family is calling for a more thorough probe, urging DCI officers to expedite their investigations and provide a clear explanation.
According to witnesses, the fire erupted at around 7 a.m., rapidly spreading through the furniture store and destroying numerous items. Efforts by local residents to contain the blaze were unsuccessful, and footage from the scene showed flames engulfing the building as people watched helplessly. Firefighters from Kiambu County later managed to put out the fire, but the damage was already extensive.
The furniture store, owned by a well-known businessman with branches across the country, including in Nakuru, remains at the center of controversy. Meanwhile, Ruiru police continue treating the case as a missing person report, a stance that the family strongly disputes as they push for deeper investigations.