More than 1,000 households spent the night outside in the cold after a fire in a Mukuru slum on Tuesday night gutted more than 300 houses and reduced property worth millions of shillings to shells.
According to Starehe deputy commissioner John Kisang, the fire started around 6 p.m. and was extinguished around 9 p.m.
Kisang went on to say that the tragedy occurred in the Mukuru-Maasai slum in Nairobi South Ward’s South B division.
He did, however, say that detectives led by the area DCIO Felix Nyamai Kithuku have begun an investigation to determine what caused the fire.
Sylvester Maithya, the slum chairman, told reporters that due to lack of access, it was difficult for county government fire engines to reach the scene of the incident.
Six fire engines battled the fire, while several water bowsers supplied water to the engines.
South B Youth leader Rodrigues Lunalo, who was present at the scene, said the vehicles’ lack of access was due to landgrabbers who encroached on all road reserves in the area.
According to the victims who spoke to journalists, the fire started in one house while the tenant was away, despite claims that it was caused by a candle that caught fire and set the curtain on fire.
The fire quickly spread due to strong winds before spreading to other homes.
Panic also spread among the nearby Hazina estate, with residents fearing that the fire will spread to the estate.
Leaders and residents lauded the youths for their bravery in fighting the overwhelming fire basins, jerricans, and buckets fetching water from the Ngong River.
“Youths did a commendable work as they volunteered to put out the fire using water from Ngong River, water pipes while their colleagues were demolishing other houses to prevent the fire from spreading further,” Ms Mary Kiminza Charles remarked.
