Scores of people have been left homeless and property worth millions of shillings destroyed after a massive fire swept through a residential area in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on Wednesday evening.

The inferno, which spread rapidly through closely packed houses, reduced several homes and household items to ashes, leaving families counting heavy losses as night fell.

Residents said the fire was triggered by the explosion of a gas cylinder in one of the houses, before quickly spreading to neighbouring dwellings. Efforts by locals to contain the blaze proved futile due to strong winds and the lack of firefighting equipment.

Police officers were deployed to the scene to maintain order and prevent looting as anxious residents attempted to salvage what they could from the burning structures. However, by the time of publishing, no fire brigade had arrived at the scene, further complicating rescue and containment efforts.

No fatalities had been reported by Wednesday night, though several residents were treated for shock as authorities began assessing the extent of the damage. Investigations into the exact cause of the fire are expected to commence once the area is secured.