At least one person was killed and many were left with injuries following a fire incident at a residential apartment in Nairobi’s Kawangware area.
The fire broke out on the fourth floor of a four-storey building, police and witnesses said.
The fire occurred in the Stage 2 area of the Congo area in the populous Kawangware and is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire began
spreading rapidly, with thick black smoke engulfing the air.
Fire engines arrived
there minutes later and helped to contain the spread of the fire that broke out
Sunday at about 2 am.
Nairobi police boss
George Sedah said they are investigating the incident. He said a number of
people were injured and taken to the hospital.
“We can confirm one
fatality for now. Some were also injured and taken to the hospital,” he said.
The body was moved to
the mortuary pending autopsy amid investigations into the cause of the fire.
This is the latest such incident to happen in the informal settlements amid efforts to address the trend.
Officials want communities in informal settlements to implement basic fire safety measures as part of efforts to contain tragedies linked to outbreaks.
In May 2025, separate fire incidents killed at least 15 people in Nairobi's informal settlements of Kibera, Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Mathare slums – some of the largest slums in Nairobi.
Nairobi regional commissioner Katee Mwanza said the government is prioritising early warning systems, community training and enhanced coordination with counties to strengthen disaster risk reduction and mitigation.
"We urge all community members to remain vigilant, report hazards promptly and work with local authorities in implementing basic fire safety measures," Mwanza said.
"The government remains committed to safeguarding lives and property, including instituting safety measures aimed at forestalling cases of fires in the future."
The recent tragic fire incidents that occurred in various informal settlements in Nairobi between May 19 and 24 were saddening, Mwanza added.
In one incident, a fire in Mathare 4B claimed the lives of six individuals – four Kenyans and two Ugandan nationals – while several others sustained injuries.
Another fire swept through Kambi Aluru village, Kibera, killing eight people, including two men, two women and four children. Another incident in Mukuru kwa Reuben caused the death of one child.
Mwanza highlighted that the lack of proper road infrastructure in these areas has posed a significant challenge to responders.
"We acknowledge the structural challenges facing informal settlements, particularly around disaster preparedness and response infrastructure," he said.
