Fire Destroys Property Adjacent to Garden City Mall Along Thika Road

A major fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at a multi-million shilling property located directly behind Garden City Mall along the Thika Superhighway. The incident, which was first reported shortly after midday on January 31, 2026, sent plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, visible to motorists and residents across the Ruaraka and Roysambu areas.

Local emergency services and fire engines from the Nairobi City County government were dispatched to the scene to combat the blaze. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire affected structures situated in proximity to the expansive mall complex, a key commercial and residential hub in Nairobi's Eastlands district.

Eyewitnesses at the scene shared footage of the fire on social media, showing the intensity of the flames as they consumed sections of the property. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by local authorities, initial assessments suggest significant damage to the building's interior and structural components.

Nairobi has seen a series of fire incidents in commercial districts recently, often complicated by challenges in site access or the presence of flammable construction materials. At the Garden City site, first responders focused on cordoning off the area to manage the crowds of onlookers and ensure that the Thika Superhighway's traffic flow was not completely obstructed by the emergency operations.

As of Saturday evening, cooling operations were still underway to ensure that no hidden pockets of fire remained within the debris. There were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries among the workers or residents at the site, though property owners are expected to record substantial financial losses.

Police have secured the perimeter of the affected building to facilitate a forensic audit by fire investigators. The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding fire safety and emergency response times within Nairobi's rapidly expanding commercial zones. Further details on the extent of the structural damage are expected once the site is cleared for safety inspectors to enter.