NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 50 vehicles, including high-end cars, have been destroyed in a fire that swept through three garages along Muringa Road, off Ole Dume Road, in Nairobi’s Kilimani area.
The blaze broke out at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday and spread to neighbouring garages, leaving vehicle owners and mechanics counting losses running into millions of shillings.
Nairobi County emergency teams battled the fire for several hours before bringing it under control.
County Chief Officer for Customer Engagement and Citizen Service Geoffrey Mosiria said the operation took more than four hours because the fire involved vehicles, petrol and other highly flammable materials.
No injuries or deaths have been reported.
The fire left several vehicles reduced to charred shells, while other cars were partially damaged as flames spread across the garage premises.
Vehicle owners count millions in losses
Among those affected was motorist Mike Wayamba, whose Mercedes GLE was destroyed while undergoing repairs.
Wayamba said the vehicle, valued at about KSh3 million, was expected to undergo a final test drive before he collected it.
He also had a Range Rover at the garage, which was partially damaged but was reportedly rescued by mechanics.
Garage owner Derrick Nasole said nine of his vehicles were destroyed, putting his personal losses at between KSh15 million and KSh20 million.
Nasole said an initial count showed about 45 vehicles had been destroyed, but additional vehicles were later removed from the site by their owners, bringing the estimated total number affected to more than 50.
The damage extended beyond vehicles, with spare parts, tools and other garage equipment also destroyed.
The garage employed more than 200 mechanics and workers, according to reports, raising concerns about the impact of the fire on livelihoods as the affected businesses assess the damage.
Firefighters battle blaze for hours
Witnesses said attempts were initially made to contain the fire using fire extinguishers before emergency services were called.
Nairobi County fire crews later arrived and worked alongside mechanics, disaster-response personnel and members of the surrounding community to prevent the flames from spreading further.
The presence of petrol and other combustible materials made the operation particularly difficult and dangerous.
County officials said emergency teams remained at the scene after the main blaze was contained to deal with remaining hotspots.
Cause of fire remains unknown
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Detectives from Kilimani Police Station are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blaze, with authorities expected to determine how it started after examining the scene.
Authorities have not confirmed reports of an electrical fault, negligence or any other specific cause, and no such explanation should be treated as established until investigations are completed.
The total value of the property destroyed is also yet to be formally established.
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For vehicle owners, the losses will depend on the extent of damage, the value of individual cars, repair costs and available insurance coverage.
The incident has also renewed attention on fire safety at vehicle repair facilities, where petrol, oils, spare parts, rubber and other combustible materials can intensify a fire and make emergency response more difficult.
As investigations continue, affected vehicle owners and mechanics are left to assess the damage and determine how to rebuild their businesses following one of the most destructive garage fires reported in the Kilimani area in recent months.
