Inferno Guts Shauri Area in Embu, Hundreds of Furniture Traders Count Heavy Losses

The inferno, whose cause is yet to be established, broke out at around 9pm on Monday, February 2, 2026, and spread rapidly through the area, which is largely occupied by furniture workshops, timber yards, and showrooms.

Within a short time, raging flames engulfed business premises, destroying finished furniture, raw materials, machinery, and tools, as traders watched helplessly while years of hard work and investment went up in smoke.

The scene was one of shock and despair, with some traders visibly shaken by the scale of destruction, while others stood in silence, unable to salvage anything from their burning businesses.

Peter Mwololo, the chairman of Shauri United Association, said about 300 traders had been affected by the inferno, noting that most of them depend entirely on the furniture business as their only source of livelihood.

Mwololo criticized the emergency response, saying the fire brigade that arrived at the scene did not have sufficient water to effectively fight the blaze, and called on the Embu County Government to improve preparedness for such disasters.

“This fire has destroyed livelihoods. About 300 traders have been affected, yet the fire brigade did not have enough water to put out the flames. We need better preparedness and proper equipment to protect our people,” said Mwololo.

Efforts by the Embu County emergency response team were further hampered after the fire engine’s water hose, used to draw and spray water, was reportedly vandalized by unknown individuals, slowing down the firefighting operation.

Joseph Njoka, the Director of Risk Management in Embu County, said the county fire brigade had been swiftly deployed to contain the inferno, but their efforts were frustrated by unruly members of the public. He explained that as firefighters battled the blaze, some individuals turned violent, cutting the fire brigade’s hosepipe with a panga and pelting the team with stones, effectively paralyzing the rescue operation.

“As we were putting out the fire, some people came with a panga, cut off the hosepipe, and started throwing stones at our fire brigade,” Njoka said.

The delay allowed the fire to spread further, causing more destruction before it was eventually brought under control, according to traders who witnessed the operation. Charles Mugambi, the chairman of Embu Business Owners Association, called for a thorough investigation into the incident, noting that fire outbreaks in the area have increased in recent days. “We are deeply concerned because these fire incidents are becoming frequent. Authorities must investigate thoroughly to establish the cause and prevent a repeat of such devastating losses,” Mugambi said.

One of the affected traders, Geoffrey Njeru, said he had invested about KSh2.6 million in his business, including raw materials, machines, and ready-made furniture that he was scheduled to deliver to clients on Tuesday. “I had furniture ready for delivery today, machines, and materials worth about KSh2.6 million. Everything was destroyed by the fire, and I don’t know how I will recover,” Njeru said.

For Titus Waweru, who has operated a furniture business in the Shauri area since the year 2000, the incident was particularly painful, as it marked the second time his business had been destroyed by fire despite having taken a loan from a sacco to rebuild.

“This is the second time fire has brought me down. I secured a loan to put up the business again, and now it has all been reduced to ashes. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid so that we can rise again and rebuild our businesses,” Waweru said.

The Shauri area has previously experienced similar incidents, including a major fire in 2022, raising renewed concerns about fire safety, emergency preparedness, and long-term prevention measures to protect traders and their investments.