A massive fire tore through business premises in Diani, Kwale County, on Wednesday night, reducing property worth millions of shillings to ashes and leaving dozens of traders in shock.
The blaze, which began near an electricity pole in the Millennium area, spread quickly, engulfing shops and stalls stacked with goods. Traders watched helplessly as years of investment went up in smoke.
“We lost everything. By the time help came, it was too late,” said Rashid Mwinyi, a shop owner who stood in front of his charred premises, visibly shaken.
Witnesses said attempts to contain the fire were hampered by a lack of firefighting equipment. Only a few fire engines were available, and they struggled to keep the flames under control.
“If we had more trucks, some of these businesses could have been saved,” said resident Jane Atieno, who joined others in carrying water buckets to support the overwhelmed fire crews.
The losses run into millions, though officials have yet to release an official estimate. For many, the tragedy has exposed what they see as glaring weaknesses in Kwale County’s emergency response system.
“This fire has shown how unprepared we are,” said community leader Salim Mwachiro. “The county must invest in fire engines and trained personnel. Otherwise, this will keep happening.”
County officials have not commented in detail but said an investigation into the cause of the fire and the emergency response is under way.
For traders in Diani, the concern now is how to recover. “We don’t know where to start,” Mwinyi said quietly. “It will take years to rebuild what was lost in a few hours.”
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