A devastating gas explosion and subsequent fire tore through Madoya slums in Huruma, Nairobi County, on Thursday night, October 2, 2025, leaving at least eight people feared dead and more than 80 residents homeless.
According to eyewitnesses, the inferno was triggered by a gas cylinder explosion that rapidly spread through the congested informal settlement, consuming multiple structures within minutes.
Residents Recount Horror
Heartbroken survivors painted a grim picture of the chaos and loss that followed. One man, who lost his wife and three children, described the moment the blaze erupted in a neighbouring house.
“The fire started downstairs at our neighbour’s place. I heard it was gas. I lost my wife, my three children, and one child of my brother-in-law. Everything is gone,” he said.
Another woman, now recovering in hospital, recounted her narrow escape.
“When I came out, the fire had already reached our door. The flames blocked my way, so I went back inside. Young men brought a ladder, and that’s how I escaped — but I was injured,” she narrated.
A grieving mother who lost her daughter in the tragedy spoke of her despair, saying she lacked the means to even arrange for her child’s burial.
“I don’t have clothes, a house, or money to take my daughter to the mortuary. I am left with nothing,” she said tearfully.
Anger Over Delayed Emergency Response
Residents have condemned the slow response by emergency services, accusing the county government and fire brigade of failing to act promptly.
“Up to now, the government has not reached the affected people. The Red Cross is yet to arrive, and the county fire team responded hours late. This is unacceptable,” one resident lamented, adding that many survivors spent the night in the rain without shelter.
Critics pointed out that fire response units stationed near Kangundo Road failed to respond efficiently, allegedly citing fuel shortages as an excuse for the delay.
Call for Accountability and Support
As recovery efforts continue, calls are mounting for Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration and disaster agencies to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions to prevent such tragedies in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
The Huruma explosion once again underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation of domestic gas distribution and better urban emergency response systems — failures that continue to cost innocent lives in the capital’s most vulnerable communities.
