A major fire broke out at Golden Africa Ltd, a manufacturing facility along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, late Monday night, prompting an urgent response from county and national emergency teams.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti confirmed on X that the County Emergency and Disaster Operations Centre received the distress call at approximately 11:03 pm.
"We swiftly deployed county emergency response teams, responding within the critical golden hour," she said.
According to Governor Ndeti, the fire has escalated from a standard blaze to an oil-based fire, complicating containment efforts.
"Response efforts are inherently more complex and require careful management to ensure the safety of both responders and the public, as well as to protect property and salvage valuable assets," she explained.
The firefighting operation involves a coordinated team comprising Machakos County firefighters, the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, G4S security personnel, and the National Youth Service.
Officials praised the cooperation of Golden Africa Ltd’s management during the response efforts.
Governor Ndeti also reassured the public and investors that Machakos County has the capacity and coordination to manage emergencies effectively.
"Machakos County remains vigilant and prepared," she stated, emphasizing the county’s readiness to handle disasters of significant scale.
While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Residents and motorists have been advised to avoid the area to facilitate the firefighting operations and prevent accidents.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations expected once the blaze is fully contained.
Authorities have urged businesses in the region to review safety protocols and emergency preparedness to minimize risks from industrial incidents.