MOMBASA County—Feb 17, 2026—A two-story building at the Lebanon area of Mombasa was completely destroyed by fire on Monday, resulting in the loss of property valued at millions of shillings.
The blaze consumed three major shops, including a paint store, an industrial uniform supplier, and a chemical outlet used for soap production.
Residents at the scene criticized the Mombasa County Disaster Management Department for failing to respond promptly, claiming that the fire raged unchecked before officials arrived.
However, Mombasa County Transport and Infrastructure ECM Dan Manyalla, who also oversees the county’s disaster management unit, and the department’s Chief Officer Ibrahim Basafar denied any negligence on their part, stating that officials were on site responding to the emergency.
The fire caused significant traffic congestion after the road from Mwembe to Makupa causeway was temporarily closed to allow disaster management teams to tackle the blaze.
Mombasa County has in recent years faced challenges in disaster preparedness and response, particularly regarding fires in densely populated urban areas.
County authorities have emphasized the need for improved early warning systems, faster deployment of firefighting resources, and community awareness programs to minimise the impact of such incidents.
