A raging inferno tore through Kitengela early Thursday, October 3, razing down several businesses and leaving a trail of devastation.
The fire, which erupted at 4am, swept through boutiques near KCB Bank, catching traders and residents off guard.
The response by local fire fighters did little to salvage the shops, with eyewitnesses recounting how the flames spread rapidly, reducing the establishments to rubble.
Videos circulating online show desperate residents rummaging through the remains, attempting to salvage what little they could from the ruins.
Screengrabs of the aftermath of Kitengela fire, October 3.
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Courtesy
The section of Kitengela that bore the brunt of the flames is home to various stalls, predominantly clothing shops.
Despite the scale of destruction, no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.
This tragic incident comes less than a year after another fire in Kitengela’s CBD caused a staggering Ksh20 million in damages.
The January blaze, sparked by an electrical fault, destroyed a temporary two-storey building housing a furniture shop, fish containers, an Mpesa outlet, and a boutique.
It took hours to control, but fortunately, key structures like the National Bank building were spared.
Kitengela residents are no strangers to fire tragedies. Earlier in March, a bizarre incident unfolded when a middle-aged man in Chuna Estate reportedly locked himself in his house and set it ablaze.
The man, described as a well-known local, tragically perished in the flames, while his domestic help narrowly escaped unharmed. The man’s family was away at the time, adding to the mystery surrounding his actions.
This latest fire has heightened concerns in Kitengela, with business owners reeling from repeated losses. The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, as the community waits anxiously for answers.
Screengrabs of the aftermath of the Kitengela fire, March 2024.
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Courtesy
