A fire has engulfed homes and small businesses in Mathare’s Mlango Kubwa, leaving families displaced and residents fleeing for safety.

Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo raised the alarm in a post on X on Sunday, June 21, 2026, saying emergency teams were responding to distress calls from the area.

“We have received distress calls concerning a fire in Mathare’s Mlango Kubwa, which has ravaged homes and small businesses, forcing many residents to flee for safety,” she wrote. “We have been in touch with emergency teams on the ground who are working hard to contain the situation.”

Odhiambo noted that the blaze came shortly after an early morning fire at Gikomba Market, which left at least 17 people injured before being contained after nearly 10 hours of firefighting.

“Coming off the back of the early morning fire in Gikomba, this highlights the urgent need for a coordinated plan for fire safety, accessible emergency services, and dignified housing so that communities like Mathare are not left to face disaster alone time and again,” she added.

Markets, homes hit hard

Residents in Mlango Kubwa said the fire spread rapidly through tightly packed structures made of timber, iron sheets, and other flammable materials.

Authorities had not confirmed the cause of the fire by the time of publication. Investigations are expected once the blaze is fully contained.

The Mathare incident comes hours after a separate fire at Gikomba Market earlier in the day. According to the Kenya Red Cross, 17 people were treated for minor and moderate injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation, at a first aid post set up at Gikomba Fire Station.

Firefighters contained the Gikomba blaze after nearly 10 hours of operations, though traders reported significant losses after parts of the market were destroyed.