A devastating fire tore through a plastic shop in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on Thursday night, reducing property worth millions to ashes and exposing critical gaps in emergency response systems.
Highlights:
- A fire gutted a plastic shop in Kitengela, destroying goods worth millions
- Residents blamed the inferno on an electrical fault
- Fire crews arrived late and had to demolish structures to control the flames
- Police battled looters as the fire raged
- Locals are demanding more firefighting resources from the county government
Main Story:
A large fire erupted at a plastic shop in Kitengela town on Thursday night, sending thick smoke into the sky as locals watched helplessly. The fire, which broke out as many were making their way home from work, is suspected to have been triggered by an electrical fault.
Firefighters arrived at the scene long after the blaze had intensified, forcing them to demolish parts of nearby buildings in a desperate attempt to stop it from spreading. Business owners and onlookers voiced their frustration over the delayed response, noting that valuable time was lost as the fire devoured stock and property.
As emergency teams tried to manage the flames, police officers had their hands full dealing with looters who took advantage of the confusion to steal from affected shops. The scene turned chaotic, with officers trying to protect what was left of the burning businesses.
Kitengela residents expressed deep concern over the rising number of fire incidents in the area and the limited firefighting capacity. They are now calling on the Kajiado County Government to invest in more fire engines and emergency response infrastructure, warning that more lives and livelihoods are at risk if nothing changes.
As Kitengela residents count their losses, the bigger question remains — will the next fire find the town any better prepared?
