At least two people have been confirmed dead and several others injured following a devastating fire in the Sinai area of Mukuru kwa Reuben, Nairobi County.
The blaze, which broke out early Thursday morning, is reported to have started in a single house before rapidly spreading to neighboring structures, leaving over 200 families homeless.
Eyewitnesses say the fire erupted while most residents were still asleep. Despite desperate efforts by locals to contain the flames, the fire quickly engulfed several homes.
Residents have criticized the Nairobi County Government’s disaster response team, accusing them of arriving late and ill-equipped.
“The firefighters got here too late, and when they did, their truck had no water. They left without putting out the fire,” one resident claimed.
Another added,
“These roads are impassable. If they were accessible, the fire could have been contained before it spread.”
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, but police have launched investigations. Those injured are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across Nairobi.
Fires are a recurring tragedy in Nairobi’s densely populated Eastlands, particularly in informal settlements.
Just a month ago, a similar incident occurred in Tassia Estate, Embakasi, where a fire reportedly triggered by a gas explosion destroyed several homes on August 26.
Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported in that case.
In both incidents, the fire was exacerbated by the highly flammable materials mainly wood and iron sheets used in the construction of many informal homes.
Residents have called for improved infrastructure and faster emergency response to prevent future tragedies.
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