A fire broke out around 1 PM on Sunday, February 23, 2025, in the Kariobangi Light Industries area, Nairobi, injuring at least 10 people and destroying property of unknown value.
The blaze, which took nearly six hours to contain, ravaged multiple structures, including three bakeries, two timber yards, car garages, two schools, a carton yard, a firewood yard, an LPG gas cylinder yard, and several residential homes.
Authorities believe the fire originated from one of the affected structures before spreading rapidly, fueled by heavy winds, cartons, and timber. As a result, students of the impacted schools were displaced when they arrived on Monday to find their classrooms destroyed.
Firefighters from Nairobi City County and Kiambu County worked tirelessly to put out the flames, which continued to reignite until late evening. Nairobi police commander George Sedah confirmed that investigations are underway, with officers revisiting the site on Monday.
The Kenya Red Cross and St John Ambulance provided medical assistance to the injured.
In a separate incident, a fire in Kanguruwe, Kayole, on Friday night claimed the life of a man who was asleep in one of the affected houses. Locals, assisted by the Nairobi County Fire Brigade, managed to extinguish the fire before discovering the victim’s body. The cause of both fires remains under investigation, and the deceased’s body was transferred to the mortuary for an autopsy.
