The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nairobi police are currently probing the origins of a fire that erupted in the early hours of Saturday at Ebrahim Shopping Mall in the central business district. The incident resulted in the destruction of property on the first and second floors of the building located along Moi Avenue.
Although eyewitnesses suggested the fire, which began around 4 am, might have been triggered by an electrical fault, authorities have not confirmed the cause, pending their investigation.
Emergency responders from the Nairobi City County Fire Department took over two hours to fully extinguish the flames and prevent their spread to neighboring premises. Security personnel cordoned off the area as firefighters and fire marshals worked diligently to control the blaze.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
This marks the first fire incident in the city since February 2022 when a building housing Sunbeam Shopping Complex along Mfangano Street was affected. The Nairobi Fire Department swiftly responded to that incident.
Governor Johnson Sakaja, in a bid to enhance firefighting capabilities, allocated Sh165 million to the city’s fire department in the 2023 Appropriation Bill. The funds included Sh120 million for the construction of fire stations in Gikomba, Kangemi, and Clay City. An additional Sh25 million was designated for the establishment of the Kangundo Road fire station.
City Hall also earmarked Sh20 million for the refurbishment of the dormitory at Tom Mboya Fire Station. These efforts aimed to address the long-standing challenge of Nairobians resorting to private firefighting services during emergencies.
In a significant relief for city residents, City Hall constructed four new fire stations in Waithaka, Kangundo, Ruaraka, and Gigiri at an estimated cost of Sh1 billion. This initiative aimed to supplement the services provided by the Koja fire station and the one located in the Industrial Area.
