A massive fire broke out in Kitengela town, Kajiado County, on the night of July 25, 2025, causing huge damage and destroying property believed to be worth millions of shillings. Several businesses and structures were reduced to ashes, leaving traders in deep shock and counting heavy losses.
According to initial reports, the fire started around 7:00 PM inside a plastic shop located along the busy Nairobi-Namanga Road.
Witnesses said they heard loud bangs or explosions just moments before the flames erupted and quickly spread to nearby buildings.
“We heard a loud spark and then saw thick smoke rising from the plastic shop. Within no time, the fire had spread everywhere,” one of the shocked eyewitnesses narrated.
The flames spread rapidly, consuming several nearby businesses including a boutique, a mobile phone shop, a furniture store, and parts of a hotel.
Food stalls, rental shops, and even residential houses in the area were also destroyed. The use of highly flammable materials in the area is believed to have made the fire worse.
Despite efforts by local residents to put out the fire using buckets of water and sand, their attempts were unsuccessful as the fire was too intense and spread too fast. In footage shared by Kenyans.co.ke, people could be seen trying their best to stop the fire before help arrived.
Machakos County firefighters arrived at the scene nearly an hour later and managed to contain the flames before they could spread further.
However, to stop the fire, the firefighters had to demolish some structures in the path of the flames.
Exploding gas cylinders from the affected shops made the situation even more dangerous and difficult to manage. Police officers were also forced to disperse crowds of residents who were attempting to rescue goods and belongings from burning shops.
The incident has left many business owners and families in distress, not only because of the huge financial losses but also due to uncertainty about how they will recover. Many traders are now pleading for help and support.
This tragedy comes at a time when the number of fire incidents in the area is rising. Residents are now calling on the Kajiado County government to urgently invest in more fire engines and better-equipped firefighting teams to handle future emergencies.
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