Tens of people were evacuated after a massive fire broke out at Yare Plaza along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The blaze erupted from the middle floors of the approximately seven-storey commercial building, trapping several occupants inside. The structure hosts dozens of businesses, most of them clothing traders dealing in garments and assorted merchandise.
According to Nairobi police boss George Seda, all tenants were successfully evacuated from the building.
“The cause of the fire has not been established for now but the emergency teams have evacuated all who were trapped there,” said Seda.
Some victims sustained minor injuries while escaping the inferno.
Dramatic scenes unfolded as thick, dark smoke billowed from the building, with members of the public stepping in to assist before official responders arrived.
Residents used ropes and electrical cables to rescue those trapped. In one instance, a man was seen climbing down the building using an earthing wire.
Business owners also risked their lives attempting to salvage goods from the burning premises.
The Nairobi County Government deployed a fire engine from its Fire Department to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings. Police officers also responded to assist with evacuation efforts and to deter looters who attempted to exploit the chaos.
The fire was eventually brought under control more than two hours after it started.
The incident has renewed concerns over fire safety standards in Nairobi’s high-rise commercial buildings.
Eastleigh, one of the city’s fastest-growing business hubs, has witnessed rapid development, with many multi-storey structures housing small-scale traders.
The Yare Plaza fire comes barely a month after another business building went up in flames along Luthuli Street in the Nairobi Central Business District on January 6, 2026.
Entrepreneurs are now counting losses running into millions of shillings following the destruction of property and merchandise.
Under Kenya’s Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 2007 and the Fire Risk Reduction Rules 2007, business premises must be equipped with functional fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire alarms and properly serviced fire-fighting equipment.
Failure to comply with these regulations attracts a fine of up to Sh500,000.
There is now a growing campaign urging all building owners within the city to install and maintain adequate fire safety measures to protect tenants and customers.
Investigations into the cause of the Yare Plaza fire are ongoing.
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