At least four people killed in separate fire incidents in Kibera, Kitale

At least four people were killed in separate fire incidents reported in Nairobi’s Kibera slums and Kibomet in Kitale Town.

Police said several people were left homeless after the fires on Tuesday.

At least one person was injured in a separate incident in Kangemi, Nairobi.

The first incident occurred in the Laini Saba area, where about 70 structures were burned down.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established, police said.

The fire is believed to have started in one of the affected houses before spreading rapidly to others.

Police and residents said there was a blackout in the area before power was restored, after which the fire broke out.

A fire engine responded to the scene and helped contain the blaze, witnesses said.

It was during the operation that two bodies, burned beyond recognition, were discovered in the debris.

The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy, Nairobi Police Commander George Seda said.

Elsewhere in Kitale Town, police said they are investigating an incident in which two people were killed in a house fire.

The bodies were discovered after the fire had been contained. The two had reportedly returned home early on Tuesday morning in Makunga village, Kibomet area, and lit a candle or cigarette, which is believed to have triggered the fire.

About ten other houses were also burned in the incident. The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

In Kangemi, a man was burned and injured in a fire incident. The fire broke out in the Makaburini area and flattened several structures. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The victim was rushed to hospital in stable condition. In Kawangware, Nairobi, a family of four escaped unhurt after a fire broke out in their house following a gas cylinder explosion.

No one was injured in the Tuesday morning incident.

Property of unknown value was destroyed, police said. A team of detectives is investigating the incident.

Officials say most informal settlements lack access roads to improve emergency response.

There is an ongoing campaign to construct roads in these areas and formalise power connections to homes.

Illegal power connections have been linked to some fire incidents. President William Ruto has announced plans to formalise electricity connections in affected areas