Several families were forced to spend the night in the cold after their houses were on Wednesday razed by fire in Athi River, Machakos county.
The residents from Embakasi estate lost property of said the fire broke at around 5pm and consumed the two-storey mabati structure with 20 houses.
Firefighters from Machakos county government put out the fire.
There were no reported casualties.
Residents said the fire may have been caused by an electric fault.
"That connection is illegal. These make shift houses have been in existence for several years, " a police source not authorized to speak to the press told the Star at the scene.
Athi River assistant chief Martin Ngomo helped control the crowd at the scene, with many not wearing face masks and failing to obey social distancing rules.
It took the fire brigade close to two hours to contain the fire.
