A fire broke out in the Mashimoni area of Lindi village in Kibera on the evening of September 3, displacing residents and injuring three people, according to officials.
The blaze, which began around 7:30 p.m., was reportedly caused by an electrical fault.
Flames quickly spread through the densely populated neighborhood before emergency responders arrived.
“Fire reported in Mashimoni area in Kibera. Nairobi City Fire Department en route. Our Community Based Disaster Response Team (CBDRT) is at the scene, working alongside the community members to extinguish the fire,” the Kenya Red Cross posted on social media shortly after the incident began.
Firefighters from the Nairobi County Fire Department, aided by local residents and disaster response teams, managed to contain the fire later that evening.
A follow-up statement from the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that 23 households were affected, with three individuals sustaining minor injuries. All were treated at the scene.
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“The fire has been successfully contained… The Kenya Red Cross Nairobi Branch will conduct a needs assessment tomorrow,” the organization said in a subsequent post.
Previous Deadly Kibera Fire
On 24 May, at least nine people died following a devastating fire that broke out in the Makina area of Kibera.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire claimed the lives of seven members of the same family and a pregnant woman.
Police said at least 20 others were left with serious injuries. Of these, seven were dire and were admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Over 300 families in Kibera who were left homeless following a fire received government support to help rebuild their lives.
The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, delivered various food items to the families, promising a long-lasting solution to fire incidents in informal settlements.
Mr Ruku distributed 250 mattresses, 500 blankets, 1440 sanitary pads, 5,000 kilograms of rice and 5,000 kilograms of beans.
“As part of the long-term solutions to fire disasters in the informal settlements, the government is constructing affordable houses in many urban informal villages such as Kibra, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru Kwa Reuben, and Korogocho,” Mr Ruku said.
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“As a government, we are doing everything possible to ensure that the people in the informal settlement do not suffer,” he added.
Govt Plan to Curb Fire Incidents
Mr Ruku had pointed out that part of the measures the government was undertaking to ensure those in informal settlements do not continue to suffer is the provision of affordable housing.
“The affordable housing projects in the informal settlements spearheaded by President William Ruto are a sustainable solution to such incidents and will ensure the government protects lives and properties of Kenyans while providing humane and decent living environments,” Mr Ruku said.
Members of Parliament had also called on the government to provide a long-lasting solution over frequent fire outbreaks in informal settlements that have left many dead and properties destroyed.
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