Traders in Kitengela are counting heavy losses after a fire gutted a commercial establishment along the Nairobi–Namanga Road on Friday evening, destroying property of unknown value.
The fire, which broke out around 7:00 p.m., engulfed a storey building made from a container and topped with mabati structures. The establishment, located within Kitengela Township in Kajiado County, housed several businesses, including a salon, a barbershop, a hardware store, and other shops selling household goods.
Isinya Subcounty Police Commander Simon Lokitari confirmed the incident, noting that the fire was first reported to the Kitengela Police Station by one of the affected traders. “The incident was reported by one of the victims, a business owner, who informed us of a fire burning their premises,” Lokitari said.
Emergency response teams from the Kitengela Police Station and the County Government of Kajiado’s fire brigade swiftly responded, with assistance from members of the public. Together, they managed to contain the fire before it could spread to nearby structures.
“The fire brigade was already on-site by the time our officers arrived. Their efforts, combined with those of residents and police, helped put out the flames,” Lokitari added.
The building, reportedly owned by Grace Mutitika, had six rooms. Initial investigations indicate the fire may have originated from a salon located on the top floor, before quickly spreading to adjacent businesses, including a barbershop. Several items within the container’s lower shops were partially damaged, while the upper structures were completely destroyed.
Traders and residents who arrived at the scene on Saturday morning were visibly shaken, many staring helplessly at the charred remains of what used to be their shops and main sources of income.
While the exact value of the destroyed property has not yet been established, Lokitari urged affected traders to compile lists of the lost items to aid in the ongoing investigation and possible compensation.
No casualties were reported in the incident, but the loss has left a significant economic impact on the small-scale traders of Kitengela.
