Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has called for a radical rethink in the fight against fire disasters in the city’s informal settlements, urging national authorities to adopt community-based power distribution models to address the root causes of frequent fires.
Speaking on Sunday at AIC Church in Kibera, Governor Sakaja painted a grim picture of Nairobi’s fire crisis, citing recent tragedies across multiple neighbourhoods.
“We have lost 15 people in Nairobi this week. There was a fire incident in Mathare, then on Tuesday, another in Makina, Kibera. That same day in Reuben, a child died from a fire; the common factor, our Excellency, is energy, either gas explosions or illegal electricity connections," he said.
Sakaja appealed to the national government to direct the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to implement alternative models of power access that could reduce such risks.
“There are global models for social connection to power. That’s the solution we need. If you, your Excellency, direct EPRA, they can implement it,” he said.
The governor proposed a pragmatic approach: working with those behind illegal power connections rather than fighting them.
“These illegal connections have been there. If you can’t beat them, join them. Let’s find those doing the connections, reduce power tariffs, and empower them with proper cables and equipment so they can become certified distributors. Otherwise, we’ll continue losing lives daily.”
Sakaja revealed that in January alone, Nairobi recorded 70 fire incidents, with Mathare experiencing fires almost every two days.
He emphasised that without structural changes in energy access, especially in densely populated slums, the cycle of fire-related tragedies would persist.
"The county government has engaged with several national officials, including Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, to push for reforms," he said.
On May 24, eight people are said to have been killed in a fire incident in Kibra.
Police said at least 20 others were left with serious injuries.
Of these, seven were dire and were admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire claimed the lives of seven members of the same family and a pregnant woman.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
