The fire erupted in a building near Marwa Towers along Muratina Road, drawing a crowd of onlookers who watched helplessly as flames consumed the lower floors.
Videos shared on social media documented the alarming situation as the fire continued to spread, leading to an immediate response from the Nairobi City County Fire Team. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that firefighters were actively engaged in combating the fire, with support teams on standby to provide first aid and psychological assistance to those affected.
The cause of the fire and the status of any injuries remain unclear at this time. In a tweet on X social media, it was stated, “We have collaborated with the Nairobi City County fire team, who are currently on the ground working to extinguish the fire. ”
The Kenya Red Cross remarked, “The Kenya Red Cross is on standby, prepared to offer first aid services and psychosocial support to those affected. ”
Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the fire, and there has been no confirmation of any injuries. The incident follows another fire that took place on Wednesday in the Jerusalem area of Dagoretti South, prompting rescue teams to respond to the situation. Similar to the Eastleigh blaze, the cause of this fire also remains undetermined.
Recent months have witnessed a series of fire incidents in Nairobi, with this latest occurrence contributing to the increasing concern. On the evening of October 13, two distinct fires impacted approximately 20 households in Viwandani’s Riverside Village, prompting immediate action from county disaster management teams and local community responders.
Governor Johnson Sakaja recently evaluated the fire damage at a trading area on Desai Road, Ngara, on September 2, where many traders experienced loss of their livelihoods. The governor’s visit emphasized ongoing initiatives to enhance the city’s fire response systems and to offer assistance to individuals affected by such incidents.
Additional fire outbreaks were reported in September, including a fire in Kawangware’s Muslim area on the 19th and another in Mukuru Kwa Njenga on the 16th. The Nairobi Red Cross has intensified fire-extinguishing training across the county in response to the frequent fires, with the aim of enhancing communities’ emergency response skills.
The county fire brigade has frequently led these initiatives, successfully extinguishing a fire at Jua Kali Green Corner in Embakasi on September 14, where 24 homes were destroyed, but no casualties were reported. Similarly, a fire at Umoja 3 near Chokmatt Supermarket on August 29 resulted in no injuries.
The increasing frequency of fire incidents has led to calls for enhanced fire prevention measures and better-equipped response teams to mitigate the impact on Nairobi’s densely populated areas. As authorities investigate the cause of the Eastleigh fire, numerous residents and business owners are anxious, anticipating more prompt measures to protect lives and properties throughout the city.
