Fire Breaks Out Opposite Simba Coach Booking Centre in Nairobi CBD
A fire broke out on the top floor of a high rise building along Kumasi Road in Nairobi CBD on 6th June 2025. The building is located next to Barkat Biashara Mall and opposite Simba Coach booking centre. The building was on fire and city fire services responded to the emergency.
Visuals obtained by Kenyans.co.ke show extensive fire and smoke damage on the top floor of the building with thick smoke rising above the CBD. Fire fighting equipment and evacuation was ongoing. Nairobi City County Government had not issued a statement by the time of publishing and cause of the fire is unknown.
There are no confirmed reports of injuries or deaths. Eyewitness footage shows several business premises destroyed in the building. Property of unknown value was destroyed in the fire. Business operators in nearby buildings were evacuating and securing their premises to prevent the fire from spreading.
Nairobi City Fire Department and other emergency services were evacuating the scene as crowds gathered. Members of the public were raising concerns on the response time of the emergency services but no official time frame was given.
This is the latest in a string of fires in the Nairobi CBD in recent years. Notable ones include the fire at Ebrahim Shopping Mall along Moi Avenue on 6 January 2024 which destroyed property on the first and second floors. The cause of that fire is still under investigation. No one was injured but the firefighting response took over two hours and raised public concern.
On 1 February 2022 a fire engulfed the second and third floors of Sunbeam Shopping Complex along Mfangano Street. Authorities said it was due to an electrical fault. Nairobi Metropolitan Services and St John’s Ambulance responded and no one was injured.
Earlier on 25 March 2019 an explosion in a dry-cleaning shop led to a fire at 20th Century Building along Mama Ngina Street. Two people were injured including an expectant woman. Firefighters contained the fire and prevented structural damage to the building which houses entertainment and hospitality facilities.
On 1 February 2021 Waranga House along Sheikh Karume Road also suffered fire damage. The fire was caused by welding and broke out at around 5:30am. Although the property was damaged and inventory destroyed, no one was injured. Three fire engines were deployed.
The most deadly CBD fire incident to date was the 28 January 2009 fire at Nakumatt Downtown. The fire which started near the only staircase killed at least 29 people and 47 were reported missing.
A statement is expected to be issued by authorities including the number of casualties, preliminary cause of the fire and measures taken. Investigations into the cause of the fire and preparedness of emergency response units will also be conducted.
Fire Breaks Out Opposite Simba Coach Booking Centre in Nairobi CBD