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A fire in Mukuru Kwa Reuben has destroyed 50 houses.
The early Tuesday fire sparked a massive fire, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
According to the Nairobi City County Government, gas cylinders located in some of the houses exploded after the fire had already begun, intensifying the flames that rapidly spread through the densely packed settlement.
“We need fighters to help contain this fire, we have not been able to contain it. Houses are burning down one by one,” said an eyewitness, describing the desperate struggle by residents to contain the fire without adequate resources.
The blaze, which broke out mid-morning, sent huge clouds of black smoke into the sky, as seen in video clips shared online.
The Nairobi City Fire and Rescue Services has since contained the fire, with no casualties reported.
However, residents had initially struggled to control the flames due to a lack of water in the area.
“We don’t have any water, water was cut totally, and houses are continuing to go down in flames,” another eyewitness said.
Disaster management officers are now on-site conducting a post-disaster needs assessment to determine the extent of the damage and provide support to the affected families.
This fire marks the second major incident in Mukuru Kwa Reuben in just a few weeks, following another fire that broke out in the early hours weeks back.
The back-to-back fires have raised serious concerns about the frequency of such disasters in Nairobi’s informal settlements, where poor infrastructure and limited access to emergency services make residents particularly vulnerable.
“The fire and rescue services have returned to base, and we will continue to assess the situation. Further updates will follow,” said County Chief Officer for Disaster and Risk Coordination Bramwell Simiyu, as officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the electrical fault that sparked the fire.