A ferocious fire tore through Kangemi Estate on Thursday night, December 8, destroying hundreds of shelters and businesses on its way.
The fire forced many families to spend the night in the cold while others stayed awake to support its surge towards more settlements.
Along its trail, property worth millions of shillings was razed down as residents struggled to salvage the little they could.
According to a Kangemi resident, the cause of the fire that started in the wee hours of Thursday was not yet established.
“The fire was reported at around 12.40 am, and is still continuing till this morning," a resident stated.
Reports alleged that some residents incurred injuries as they escaped the engulfing fire.
Witnesses recounted that Nairobi County fire engines could not immediately extinguish the fire.
"A fire engine arrived at the scene, but it was too late to save the property that had already been consumed," a witness claimed.
It was believed that the fire started from one of the houses, but the residents could not pinpoint the exact location.
Police officers had a hard time controlling the crowd operating under immense panic.
In recent months, fire incidents increased in Nairobi, with the Gikomba market being one of the most affected places.
Nairobi County governor, Johnson Sakaja, promised to buy more fire engines and build new access roads in heavily populated estates.
