Written By Lisa Murimi
A massive fire erupted near the Kikuyu footbridge along Nairobi’s Southern Bypass on Friday afternoon, destroying property of unknown value.
By the time of publishing, the blaze was still raging, with firefighters struggling to bring it under control.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, but witnesses reported scenes of chaos as residents tried to salvage belongings, including gas cylinders, from the engulfed area.
Nearby businesses, such as a mattress shop and a butchery, were severely affected.
Criticism has mounted over the slow response by emergency teams.
Witnesses told CNN journalist Larry Madowo in a live TikTok feed that it took responders 40 minutes to arrive, despite the Kiambu County Fire Station being less than a kilometer away.
Videos shared online captured massive flames and smoke filling the air, as well as traffic gridlock on the bypass’s service lane.
Scores of onlookers gathered, adding to the congestion and complicating access for emergency teams.
Residents have expressed frustration, urging authorities to improve emergency response times to prevent similar losses in the future.
As investigations into the fire’s cause continue, affected families and businesses face the daunting task of rebuilding from the ashes.
