NAIROBI, Kenya — Recurrent fire disasters in Nairobi’s informal settlements have renewed calls for intensified community sensitization and coordinated risk management, as authorities warn that women and children continue to bear the brunt of the devastation.
Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku said the rising number of fires in informal villages across the capital requires a multi-agency and multidisciplinary approach, combining civic education, emergency response, and long-term urban planning.
“The increased fires in Nairobi’s informal settlements require a multi-agency and multidisciplinary approach to provide civic education to communities living in informal villages to mitigate and manage the rising losses,” Ruku said.
According to Ruku, the burden of fire disasters in Nairobi remains extremely high, with women and children disproportionately affected. He noted that the loss of shelter and livelihoods has been particularly traumatic for children, many of whom are repeatedly displaced by recurring infernos.
On Tuesday, government teams delivered emergency food and non-food relief supplies to 150 households in Kitui Village, Pumwani, within Kamukunji Constituency, after a fierce fire destroyed homes on Sunday.
“Today we delivered emergency food and non-food supplies to 150 households who lost their homes,” Ruku said, adding that relief support would continue as affected families begin recovery.
Informal settlements in Nairobi remain highly vulnerable to fires due to congested housing, illegal electricity connections, the use of open flames, and limited access routes for emergency services. Fire outbreaks frequently spread rapidly, leaving residents little time to salvage property or evacuate safely.
While emergency response remains critical, Ruku emphasised that relief efforts alone cannot address the underlying risks.
“As the government provides relevant relief support services, a lasting solution lies in the affordable housing programme that provides decent and dignifying living spaces to families that previously lived in informal settlements,” he said.
The Affordable Housing Programme, a flagship government initiative, aims to reduce informal settlement populations by expanding access to safe, planned, and serviced housing. Urban planners argue that improved housing standards, regulated electricity supply, and accessible road networks are key to reducing fire-related disasters.
Under Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, every person has the right to accessible and adequate housing and to reasonable standards of sanitation. Courts have repeatedly held that the state has a duty to progressively realise this right, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Disaster risk experts say community sensitisation on fire prevention, coupled with early warning systems, safer cooking methods, and proper waste management, could significantly reduce fire incidents in the short term.
