A fire has broken out in residential buildings in the Posta area of Kangemi, Nairobi, with several people reportedly feared trapped inside.
The blaze was reported on Thursday, August 13, with thick plumes of smoke seen rising from the affected buildings as efforts to contain the fire and establish the extent of the incident continued.
Images seen by The Kenya Times showed massive fire and smoke snaking through the structures in the area.
The number of people who may have been trapped or injured was not immediately known at the time of publishing.
Emergency responders have arrived at the scene and are fighting the inferno that has threatened to spread.
Neighbours and other bystanders were seen watching from a distance due to the intensity of the fire.
Further details on the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage were not immediately available.
The inferno torched part of the Kangemi Informal Settlement, one of Nairobi’s largest urban settlements, situated in a valley between high-end estates like Mountain View.
The vast majority are semi-permanent corrugated iron sheet shacks (mabati) built over wooden framing.
Also Read: How a Fire and Evictions Gave Birth to Huruma Estate
Previous Fire Incidents in Kangemi and Nairobi
The latest fire incident in Kangemi comes months after several other devastating fires in the area and across Nairobi, which have left residents and business owners counting heavy losses.
In May 2026, residents of Waruku near Kangemi were left counting losses after a late-night fire destroyed houses and businesses in Kileleshwa Ward, Nairobi County.
The fire, which broke out on the night of Monday, May 25, left families stranded and traders counting losses after property of unknown value was reduced to ashes.
According to area MCA Robert Alai, at least 20 houses and 11 businesses were heavily affected by the inferno.
“There is emergency fire outbreak in Waruku. Your response and support will be appreciated,” Alai said in a post shared on his official X account at around 9:45 pm.
Also Read: Fire Breaks Out at Mombasa Maize Millers Plant in Kingorani
Earlier, a massive fire also broke out in a residential building in Kangemi, destroying property worth millions and leaving several residents counting losses.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that the incident occurred along Marega Road in the Bata area on the evening of Wednesday, February 26.
The latest incident in Kangemi also comes amid a rise in fire outbreaks reported across Nairobi since the beginning of the year, affecting both residential and business properties.
In January, a fire broke out at a building along Luthuli Street, destroying several businesses. The building is located along Munyu Road at its intersection with Luthuli Avenue, near the bus stop formerly used by Kenya Mpya buses.
Just a week earlier, another business building along the same street had caught fire, destroying property worth millions.
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