Chaos erupted in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Sunday evening following a transformer explosion on the bustling Ronald Ngala Street, opposite Posta.
The explosion, which occurred around 6 PM, sparked a massive fire that quickly spread to the ground floor of a three-storey commercial building near the transformer.
Eyewitnesses reported that traders and pedestrians fled in panic, causing dramatic scenes as traffic rapidly built up along the busy street.
The Nairobi County fire brigade was immediately alerted to prevent the fire from spreading further. Early reports suggested the transformer blew just as heavy rains began in the city, although the exact cause of the explosion had yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting.
As the fire raged, business owners and residents looked on in disbelief. Footage shared online showed several shops, including a shoe store, engulfed in flames.
The Kenya Power Company is expected to investigate the area’s electrical infrastructure to ensure safety and determine the cause of the transformer malfunction.
This incident comes amid ongoing heavy rainfall in Nairobi, with the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasting intermittent showers across parts of the Central Highlands, Western Kenya, Rift Valley,
Lake Victoria Basin, and the Coastal region. At the time of writing, it was unclear if there were any injuries or casualties resulting from the fire.
