Property worth millions destroyed in Eastleigh tyre shop fire

A devastating fire broke out in Eastleigh on Friday morning along General Waruingi Road opposite Pumwani Maternity Hospital, engulfing a tyre shop and spreading to adjacent businesses.

Property worth millions was lost as two shops were completely razed, while nearby businesses, including a gym, suffered extensive damage.

Update: Firefighters battle to extinguish a fire that broke out at a tyre shop next to Urban Point Hotel on Eastleigh’s General Waruingi Street.

The fire is reported to have destroyed four shops in the area. pic.twitter.com/KnwB9wL4rX

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) February 7, 2025

Efforts to contain the inferno took hours due to the highly combustible nature of the tyres. Thick smoke blanketed the surrounding area, making it difficult for responders to access the scene.

The firefighting operation required a multi-agency response from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Police Service (NPS), the Nairobi County Government, and other stakeholders.

Starehe Sub-County Police Commander Wilson Morayah confirmed that there were no fatalities. He noted that members of the public initially attempted to put out the fire using available water sources, but the flames were too intense. Reinforcements from the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Nairobi Disaster Management team were called in to finally bring the fire under control in the afternoon.

Starehe Sub-County Police Commander Wilson Morayah confirms there were no fatalities in today's fire at a tyre shop on Eastleigh’s General Waruingi Street.

However, he notes that property worth millions was destroyed, with two shops severely affected and adjacent businesses also… pic.twitter.com/b2YGkdfBp7

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) February 7, 2025

"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the area MP and MCA for mobilising resources, including engaging the Kenya Defense Forces and the county government, to ensure fire engines were deployed to combat the blaze," Morayah said.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan, who visited the scene, expressed his sympathies to business owners affected by the tragedy. He acknowledged the efforts of the emergency response teams and called for a permanent solution to the frequent fires in Kamukunji.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan expresses his sympathies to business owners who lost millions in property after a fire broke out on Friday afternoon at a tyre shop on Eastleigh’s General Waruingi Street.

He acknowledged the efforts of the KDF, NYS, national government, NPS, and… pic.twitter.com/d459biLCNL

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) February 7, 2025

“These fires have become too common, especially in slum areas like Kitui Village, where seven lives were lost last year, and Blue Gate, where a fire just yesterday left hundreds homeless and claimed a life," he said.

He urged the county government to investigate the root causes, including faulty gas cylinders and illegal electricity connections, to prevent similar future incidents.

Other Topics To Read

• Eastleigh
• Eastleigh fire
• Kitui Village fire
• fire kitui village
• fire city slums
• Property worth millions destroyed in Eastleigh tyre shop fire
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Eastleigh North MCA Ahmed Khadar echoed similar concerns, stating, “Fires have become more frequent in residential areas and across Nairobi. Last month, the county government hired 700 new firefighters and purchased new firefighting equipment, but we still need to do more to address this crisis.”

Authorities have launched investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire, as affected business owners assess their losses.