Cargo Truck Engulfed in Flames in Malaba, Sparking Fears of Major Disaster in Busy Border TownMalaba.
A significant incident unfolded in Malaba town on Wednesday morning when a cargo truck burst into flames, resulting in substantial property damage of undetermined value.
Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze began after the truck driver attempted to cook using a gas cylinder positioned right next to the parked vehicle. An explosion from the cylinder quickly ignited the fire, which then spread to engulf the truck entirely.
The event took place amid heavy traffic congestion typical of Malaba, a key border crossing between Kenya and Uganda. This raised serious alarms among residents, who worried that the flames could have easily spread to nearby fuel tankers queued along the route. Such a scenario could have triggered a far larger catastrophe in the densely packed border area.
Adding to local frustration, community members pointed out the absence of a dedicated fire brigade from the Busia County government in Malaba. They criticized county authorities for failing to station emergency response teams in the town, especially given its vulnerability to fires and the frequent presence of hazardous cargo like petroleum products.
This latest fire comes on the heels of another destructive blaze in Malaba just days earlier, which gutted several shops and caused losses running into millions of shillings. Residents are increasingly calling for urgent improvements in fire safety measures and emergency preparedness to prevent future incidents from escalating.
No injuries or fatalities were reported from the truck fire, but the destruction has underscored ongoing safety risks in one of Kenya's busiest transit hubs. Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause or any investigations into the incident.
