Millions lost as fire razes property in Kitengela

Properties worth millions of shillings were reduced to ashes on Saturday morning after a fierce fire broke out in Kitengela town.[Peterson Githaiga/Standard]

Properties worth millions of shillings were reduced to ashes on Saturday morning after a fierce fire broke out in Kitengela town, sending panic and anguish through the local community.

The fire, which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, reportedly started at a plastic shop situated along the busy Nairobi-Namanga highway.

Properties worth millions of shillings were reduced to ashes on Saturday morning after a fierce fire broke out in Kitengela town.[Peterson Githaiga/Standard]

Eyewitnesses say the fire quickly engulfed adjacent structures, including retail shops, food kiosks, and residential units, due to the flammable materials and lack of firebreaks.

"We heard a loud spark, then saw smoke billowing from the plastic shop. Within minutes, everything was on fire," said James Mutua, a boda boda operator who witnessed the incident.

Dozens of small business owners and families were affected, with many losing everything - from stock and equipment to personal belongings.

The lack of immediate emergency response left residents watching helplessly as the flames consumed their livelihoods.

Properties worth millions of shillings were reduced to ashes on Saturday morning after a fierce fire broke out in Kitengela town.[Peterson Githaiga/Standard]

Locals attempted to put out the fire using buckets of water and sand, but the intensity of the blaze made their efforts futile.

Police officers had a difficult time managing crowds and were forced to disperse people who tried to salvage goods amid growing fears of looting.

Temporary roadblocks were set up along the highway to manage traffic and allow firefighters access to the site.

When fire engines from Kajiado County Government and neighbouring Machakos County arrived almost an hour later, they had to demolish nearby structures to create containment zones and stop the fire from spreading to more densely populated areas.

Residents decried the slow response, blaming the county's poor preparedness for emergencies.

Kajiado County Disaster Management officials said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Preliminary findings point to faulty wiring and overloaded power connections within the plastic shop.