A fire devastated Kangemi slums on March 5, 2018, leaving hundreds homeless after emergency services arrived an hour late, according to reports. The blaze destroyed makeshift tin-sheet homes along Waiyaki Way, near the Kangemi flyover, during peak morning hours.
Witnesses described traffic congestion stretching for kilometers as crowds gathered near the site, which borders a road construction zone. Firefighters faced criticism for their delayed arrival, with no immediate confirmation of casualties or the fire's origin.
This incident follows a separate fire in Nairobi’s Mukuru-Commercial slum on March 3, 2018, which killed three people including a seven-year-old boy and injured 13 others. That blaze destroyed over 600 homes, displacing more than 200 families.
Residents scavenged debris for salvageable items as authorities continued investigations into both incidents. No official statement has been released regarding the cause of the Kangemi fire or the extent of damages.
