At around 1.30pm on Tuesday while making rounds in Nairobi CBD, I met with the sound of a fire engine making their way out of town.
As the piercing siren rent the air, the urgent tone of the firelighters’ voices could be heard over the roar of the engine.
The sound of the truck’s horn blaring and tyres screeching as it raced through the streets added to the chaotic energy of the moment.
I could not immediately establish the exact destination of the fire engine.
I would, however, later learn that structures in the sprawling Mukuru Kwa Reuben were on fire with the community was struggling to put it out using crude means.
The early Tuesday fire sparked a massive inferno, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
In a video posted by the Mukuru Community Justice Centre, men could be seen lining up trying to put out the fire.
The situation was dire and the odds were stack against the community members.
According to the Mukuru Community Justice Centre, the nearest fire station was miles away and there was no access of nearby water source.
However, with a sense of determination and unity, they banded together to fight the flames.
“Leta maji, maji buda,” is all they could afford to shout.
This is even as the fire continued to spread, engulfing houses at a speedy rate.
“Community solidarity is one of the strongest pillars that help the community to put off fire in the community. Today's fire incident in Mukuru Kwa Ruben has consumed an unconfirmed number of households claiming the life of a 2-year-old child. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, we need a fire station,” Mukuru Community Justice Centre posted on X.
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.
Recent similar incidences have led to the loss of lives and massive destruction of property.
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.
On September 16, 2024, a fire incident was reported at Mukuru Kwa Njenga, near Muhindi Mweusi in Nairobi.
In August, four people were reported to be burnt beyond recognition following a fire that razed down Toi market.
A child is among the four. The victims were attempting to save their belongings when they were overpowered by the flames.
The blaze has affected at least 2,000 traders, leaving many counting their losses. These are just ones among the many cases reported fire breaks out on the informal settlement.