Evening blaze destroys water company building in Mombasa

A major fire erupted on the evening of Saturday, May 10, engulfing the premises of the Mombasa Water and Sanitation Company (MOWASSCO) located in the heart of Mombasa’s Central Business District.

The blaze broke out near residential buildings along Nkrumah Road, in close proximity to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) offices, raising alarm across the area in Mombasa County.

A widely shared video on social media captured dramatic scenes of flames consuming the MOWASSCO offices, as residents looked on—some helplessly, others desperately trying to battle the inferno with whatever means they had.

Emergency response teams from the Mombasa County Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene, joined by personnel from the Kenya Red Cross. The effort was further bolstered by reinforcements from the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Ports Authority, who worked collectively to bring the situation under control.

Response teams from the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Ports Authority also rushed to the scene, lending crucial support to efforts aimed at bringing the fire under control.

The fire raged on until midnight, but thanks to the combined efforts of the response teams, it was eventually contained. The cause of the blaze remains unclear, with investigations still ongoing.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir praised the prompt and coordinated efforts of the multi-agency teams in responding to the fire, assuring the public that no casualties were reported.

"Earlier this evening, a fire broke out at the MOWASSCO offices in Mombasa’s Central Business District. Thanks to the quick actions of our County Emergency Teams, supported by the Kenya Navy and Kenya Ports Authority, the fire has been fully contained," stated the Governor.

"Three county fire engines were deployed, with national partners offering essential assistance to protect both lives and property."

In a reassuring statement, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir confirmed that all critical data from the affected MOWASSCO offices had been securely backed up, ensuring no disruption in service delivery.

"The County Government assures residents that service continuity remains unaffected. All essential data has been safely stored on cloud-based systems, and despite this unfortunate incident, the delivery of services will continue uninterrupted," said Abdulswamad.

"We are grateful to all agencies and responders for their professionalism, swift coordination, and steadfast commitment to public safety."