Fire incident reported in Kariobangi estate
By Mustafa Juma, May 26, 2026A fire incident was reported on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Nairobi’s Kariobangi estate after a huge blaze broke out in the area.
The inferno, whose cause had not been established by the time of publication, triggered panic among residents and traders as thick smoke billowed into the sky while flames engulfed sections of the area.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Kariobangi Social Justice Centre said firefighters and residents were struggling to contain the rapidly spreading fire.
“A huge fire has broken out at Kariobangi Light Industries along the ‘Kwa Mbao line.’ Firefighters and residents are struggling to contain the blaze. Emergency support is urgently needed on the ground. Please share widely,” the organisation posted.
Videos and images shared online showed residents attempting to salvage goods and property as the flames tore through structures within the industrial area.
Emergency response teams were deployed to the scene, with firefighters battling to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby businesses and residential sections.
By Tuesday morning, the extent of the destruction had not yet been officially established, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries.
Waruku fire
The incident comes barely hours after another fire outbreak was reported in Waruku near Kangemi in Nairobi County, where houses and businesses were destroyed in a late-night inferno.
The fire, which broke out on the night of Monday, May 25, 2026, left families stranded and traders counting losses after property of unknown value was reduced to ashes.
According to area Member of County Assembly (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 on May 25, 2026, at around 9:45 pm.
In a subsequent update posted later in the night, the MCA confirmed the scale of destruction, saying emergency teams were still battling the flames.
Alai confirmed that he was at the scene supervising firefighters.
“Supervising fire extinguishers at night in Waruku. 20 houses and 11 businesses were hugely affected,” he stated.
The Nairobi Fire Department responded to the incident and managed to contain the blaze before it spread further to nearby structures in the densely populated area.
Videos and photos circulating online showed huge flames lighting up the night sky as residents desperately tried to salvage belongings from the burning structures. Some residents were seen carrying household items to safety while others watched helplessly as the fire consumed their homes and businesses.
The cause of the fire had not been established by Tuesday morning, with authorities expected to launch investigations into the incident.
No casualties had been officially reported by the time of publication, although several families were left displaced following the destruction.