A multi-agency investigation has been launched by the government into a series of deadly fires that have claimed the lives of 15 people in Nairobi’s informal settlements within a week. According to Nairobi Regional Commissioner Katee Mwanza, the coordinated team is diligently working to determine the cause of these fires and ensure those responsible are held accountable. The goal is to improve fire safety intervention in vulnerable communities.

One tragic incident occurred on Sunday, May 19, when a fire in Mathare 4B resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four Kenyans and two Ugandan nationals, and left several others injured. On Thursday, May 23, another fire in Kambi Aluru village led to the deaths of eight people, including four children. The most recent incident took place on Friday, May 24, in Mukuru kwa Reuben, where a child died. These fires have caused numerous injuries and have intensified calls for urgent investment in fire safety and long-term development in the slums.

Mwanza stated that these repeated tragedies highlight a significant lack of planning and response capacity in the slums. Multi-agency teams have been deployed to the affected areas to assist with rescue, relief, and coordination efforts. Emergency shelters and supplies have been mobilized for the displaced, and rapid assessments are being conducted to determine the needs of the survivors. Authorities are collaborating with local administrators and humanitarian organizations to provide psychosocial support and identify the deceased, ensuring that families receive appropriate assistance.

Residents and advocates are urging for quicker investments in slum upgrading programs, such as the Korogocho Slum Upgrading Program, which aims to improve infrastructure, widen footpaths, and create roads accessible to fire engines and ambulances. A community leader in Mathare, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, emphasized the difficulty fire engines face in reaching most areas due to narrow, congested paths. He added that lives continue to be lost because these communities are not built to withstand emergencies.

As survivors grieve and begin to rebuild, these losses have sparked renewed debate about urban planning, inequality, and the government’s responsibility in protecting its most vulnerable citizens. It has been noted that these fires are not mere accidents but symptoms of systemic neglect, necessitating urgent action to address the underlying issues.