Eight injured as night fire destroys 160 houses in Kawangware

At least eight people were seriously injured in a fire that broke out in Nairobi's Kawangware in Dagoretti North Sub-County on Thursday night.

The Kenya Red Cross on Friday morning confirmed that around 7:30 pm, the blaze broke out and destroyed 160 homes, forcing residents to seek alternative shelter.

The residents helped to control the fire.

"Unfortunately, 160 homes have been completely destroyed. The Kenya Red Cross has attended to eight casualties," the humanitarian organisation stated.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

This incident follows a tragic fire on Monday night in the Lunga Lunga slum in Nairobi's Viwandani Ward, Makadara Sub-County where three people lost their lives.

Police and residents reported that the fire started around 8 pm, engulfing a house where the victims were sleeping.

The victims, who were burned beyond recognition, included a 16-year-old Form Two student, an eight-year-old girl in Grade Two at Joyland Vision Academy, and their four-year-old sister, who were identified by their mother.

The fire in Lunga Lunga originated from the affected structures and spread quickly, resulting in the fatalities.

The bodies were taken to the City Mortuary.

Despite the surge in fire cases in the capital, the Nairobi County government has remained silent.

As the country continues to mourn the tragic death of 21 pupils in the Hillside Endarasha Academy incident, more fire outbreaks have been reported nationwide, causing significant damage.

Police are investigating a fire that occurred in Kibra, Nairobi, on Tuesday night.

They received the report around 9:40 pm from Kibra Pride in the Sarangombe area.

On Monday night, a fire broke out at Materi Boys High School in Tharaka Nithi around 7 pm in one of the dormitories while students were watching news.

The Chiakariga sub-county security team visited the scene and determined that the fire originated in the middle of the dormitory.

Earlier, on Sunday at 6:52 pm, a dormitory at Njoro Boys High School, which accommodates 142 students, caught fire. Police arrived and confirmed that no students were inside at the time.

The fire was later extinguished but property of unknown value was lost.

Two students suffered minor cuts and received treatment at the school’s dispensary.