300 Homes Burned in Dawn Nairobi Fire

Undated file image of a building on fire
Undated file image of a building on fire
Kenyans.co.ke

More than 300 homes in the informal settlements of Mlango Kubwa in Mathare, Nairobi County, went up in flames in the early hours of Friday, October 8.

Two people were confirmed dead following the incident with authorities noting that there could be more victims who perished in the morning inferno.

Residents disclosed that there was no enough water to put out the fire, hence, leading to its first spread.

Fire razes down homes in Mathare Constituency in Nairobi County on Friday, October 8.
Fire razes down homes in Mathare Constituency in Nairobi County on Friday, October 8.
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"The fire started at around 2am and there was a lot of commotion at the time. People were trying to salvage whatever property they could while others were going in to countercheck that their children were out of the houses."

"The biggest challenge was the lack of water and so residents started using drainage water," Paul Ng'ang'a Maina, a local leader and political aspirant stated.

At the time of publishing, police officers from the Pangani and the neighbouring Stations were at the scene conducting preliminary investigations.

Accessibility was also one of the biggest hinderances as passageways are not well defined in the area.

Locals are now calling on the county government to intervene and help them with temporary residences as they embark on a journey to rebuild their lives.

"Most of us have lost our homes. Our children will also be going back to school next week and their uniforms were destroyed in the fire," a resident stated.

In a video, stranded residents could be seen looking through the ruins with their faces displaying despair.

The incident came just days after a fire broke out in Embu County leaving some residents trapped in the building.

Emergency service providers comprising of the county fire brigade, police officers and health practitioners rushed to rescue the residents at the Matakari, Dallas estate. 

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A fire broke out at an apartment in Dallas, Embu County on Tuesday, October 2021
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