A multi-storey building in Mombasa’s bustling Bandari area was engulfed by fire on Sunday afternoon, leaving one person injured and property destroyed—just a day after another major blaze disrupted Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Mombasa County Fire Brigade, backed by Kenya Red Cross and other responders, contained the inferno near Quickmart Bandari after it gutted two rooms and partially damaged other sections. One casualty was evacuated to Nairobi Women’s Hospital, with the severity of injuries yet to be confirmed. The area was cordoned off as residents and traders looked on.
The Red Cross praised the “joint efforts” that brought the fire under control, allowing normal activities to resume once the scene was secured.
The Mombasa incident came barely 24 hours after panic erupted in Nairobi on Saturday evening when flames tore through a commercial building on Luthuli Avenue near Munyu Road. Thick smoke filled the sky as traders and pedestrians fled. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading, though several businesses sustained damage. No injuries were reported.
This marks the latest in a troubling string of fires on Luthuli Avenue. Days earlier, a blaze devastated the Ramogi Building, destroying electronics shops and forcing street closures to prevent looting.
With causes still unknown—raising suspicions of electrical faults or arson in overcrowded urban hubs—pressure is mounting on authorities to launch thorough investigations and enforce stricter fire safety measures across Kenya’s commercial districts.
As Kenya’s cities face repeated infernos, one question looms: how many more fires before decisive action is taken?
