Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s residence reportedly caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, prompting a rapid response by Nairobi City County emergency teams.
Preliminary reports indicate that the blaze broke out around dawn, with footage shared online showing flames and thick smoke rising from part of the residence.
Sparks were also reportedly visible around the affected outer section of the building, raising speculation that an electrical fault could have triggered the fire. However, the exact cause had not been established at the time of reporting.
Firefighters Contain Blaze
Nairobi City County firefighters responded to the scene under the leadership of Customer Service Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria.
The emergency team managed to contain the fire before it could spread to other sections of the property, limiting the potential damage.
Sonko later took to social media to thank the county disaster management team for responding quickly and reassured the public that he and other occupants were safe.
“The devil is a liar! Just look at how much God loves us. Image, He woke us up!” Sonko wrote.
He also expressed his appreciation to the emergency responders.
“Mosiria, thank you so much and to your entire team from Nairobi County. May God bless you abundantly,” he added.
Occupants Awake
Footage shared by Sonko showed several people attempting to put out the flames as the fire illuminated the building and surrounding area.
According to the former Nairobi governor, he and other occupants were awake when the incident occurred, enabling them to raise the alarm and alert the county emergency team.
The quick response helped prevent the blaze from causing further damage to the property.
The extent of the damage and whether the fire caused any injuries had not been immediately established.
Authorities are expected to assess the scene and establish the cause of the fire.
Second Nairobi Fire Reported
The incident comes amid a series of fire emergencies reported in Nairobi.
Just hours before the fire at Sonko’s residence, another blaze was reported at Ali Glacier, a major hardware store along 3rd Street in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.
The fire generated thick smoke as emergency teams moved in to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.
Witnesses reportedly heard explosion-like sounds from inside the building, although the source of the sounds had not been established.
The two incidents have once again highlighted the importance of rapid emergency response in Nairobi, particularly in densely populated areas where fires can quickly spread between buildings.
