Tragedy struck in Huruma, Nairobi, on Thursday night after a gas explosion claimed at least eight lives, left ten others nursing injuries, and displaced more than 80 residents. The explosion, which occurred in one of the densely populated areas, triggered an inferno that reduced several houses to rubble.
Witnesses recounted scenes of panic and desperation as residents struggled to escape the blaze.
“When I went outside, I saw that the fire had already reached our house. When I tried to escape, the fire had blocked all the roads. I found myself surrounded by flames,” one survivor said.
Another displaced resident pleaded for urgent help from authorities. “I would like the Nairobi County Government to help us because it has been raining heavily, yet we are outside with nothing,” she added.
Residents have expressed anger over what they described as a delayed and poorly coordinated emergency response. Despite the proximity of a newly constructed fire station, they claimed fire trucks failed to arrive on time due to lack of fuel.
“Red Cross has not been able to reach here. The county government is sleeping the new station nearby said they were still searching for fuel,” a resident lamented.
The Huruma explosion comes barely a week after another fire incident in the Sinai area of Mukuru kwa Reuben, where two people died and hundreds were left homeless.
Residents are now calling on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to prioritize disaster preparedness, citing poor access roads and inadequate firefighting resources as recurring challenges.
“The firefighters arrived late and without water. We want Governor Sakaja to act fast in such situations,” one resident urged.
Authorities have launched investigations to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
