Concerns over emergency preparedness have resurfaced after a fire broke out at a five-storey residential apartment building in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, on Tuesday morning, with residents questioning the delay in response from emergency teams.
The blaze occurred at Mbagathi Greens Estate, behind Maasai Mall, with residents reporting that it started in the early hours and was still burning at around 8.30am, when no emergency response had reportedly arrived.
Videos circulating on X captured flames spreading across the upper floors of the building as the morning progressed.
The incident prompted widespread reactions online, with Kenyans expressing concern about the ability of national and county disaster response teams to respond effectively to fires and other emergencies.
Questions were also raised about whether fire crews have adequate water supplies and other essential resources to contain major blazes.
One social media user described the state of emergency response in the country as inadequate, while expressing hope that no one had been injured or killed.
The user also recounted an alleged incident involving a truck that caught fire near Maneaters, where they said they contacted the Voi fire brigade for assistance. According to the user, the brigade claimed it lacked fuel and would need to refuel at a petrol station, with the caller expected to pay for it.
Another user questioned the country’s level of preparedness, comparing the Ongata Rongai fire to a separate building collapse in Eastleigh.
“Eastleigh survivors and victims haven’t even been saved as of now and then this happens, then fire trucks go to the scene without water. How are we not prepared for such incidences?” the user wrote.
The incident has renewed public debate about the readiness of emergency services, particularly their access to the equipment, water and other resources needed to respond promptly to disasters.
