Property of unknown value was destroyed in a fire that broke out overnight in the Mashimoni area of Kibera, leaving at least 23 households counting their losses.
The Kenya Red Cross revealed that the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 3, leaving several families displaced and three people nursing minor injuries.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, preliminary reports suggest that it was caused by an electrical fault before quickly spreading to the densely populated Mashimoni area.
Nevertheless, the Kenya Red Cross noted that the inferno was successfully contained following an emergency response from the Nairobi County Government and local community members.
“The fire was successfully contained by the Nairobi County Fire Department with the support of community members,” the Kenya Red Cross stated.
“A total of 23 households were affected, and three individuals sustained minor injuries, all of whom received treatment at the scene,” it added.
To cater for the affected families and determine the value of property destroyed, the Kenya Red Cross disclosed it would conduct a needs assessment on Thursday.
Cases of fires in Kibera and other informal settlements are common, with families incurring massive damages as a result of the fires. In June 2025, more than 100 families were forced to sleep in the cold after a fire in Nairobi's Kibra estate.
Traders and homeowners bore the biggest brunt of the incident after the fire spread to their units, leaving them counting losses.
In May 24, six people died while 20 others suffered severe injuries after a fire incident in Makina.
While confirming the fire, the Kibera Member of Parliament, Peter Orero revealed that it occurred behind Kambi along the route to Eagles and affected over 40 households.
Among the injured were one man, two women, and three children, all of whom were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Despite the high rate of fires, the government is yet to implement measures that would aid in curbing the occurrence of fires in such areas.
