At least six people were killed in a fire incident on Tuesday night in Kitui Village, located in Majengo slums in Nairobi’s Pumwani area.
According to reports, 19 others sustained injuries in the fire incident.
The victims, mostly men, were taken to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of injury, while emergency responders and police worked through the night to control the situation and assist survivors.
The fire destroyed more than 50 houses, displacing many families.
The cause of the fire is unknown, with Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei confirming that investigations are underway.
“Those are many people to die in such an incident. They are all men, and we are investigating the tragedy,” Bungei stated.
The Kenya Red Cross reported treating at least 16 people for minor injuries, while searches for missing people lasted late into the night.
Emergency services, including the Nairobi City County Fire Department, collaborated with community members to put out the fire, which took hours to contain.
“Together with the Nairobi City County Fire Department and community members, we have managed to contain a fire incident in Kitui Village, Majengo, Nairobi. The Kenya Red Cross remains on-site, supporting efforts to locate missing persons,” the organization said in a statement on Twitter.
The tragedy has devastated many families, with survivors pleading for help to rebuild their lives after losing their homes and belongings in the fire.
Emergency responders and authorities are urging anyone with information about the cause of the fire to come forward while investigations continue.