Families in desperate search for loved ones

“He told us that they were trapped with several other people, but he managed to jump out of the burning supermarket and left Macharia behind.” He said he spoke to his brother before the fire, but couldn’t reach him in the afternoon.

Ismail Abdul Mohammed, 17, said his mother, 37, and his 20-year-old sister were in the building and that he watched helplessly as the fire spread. They had entered the supermarket leaving him talking to an acquaintance at the entrance.

“They went in to buy me a gift... there was an explosion and the security guards blocked us from entering. Those inside couldn’t get out. I called... and they told me they were trapped upstairs near some bookshelves and were choking on smoke.

“My sister said it was dark and they could not see anything,” he said. He stayed at the scene until 2am, begging to be allowed in to look for his mum and sister.

Kayole resident Benson Alumasa Otiende was looking for his wife, Violet Ingosani, 34, who had informed him that she was going to Nakumatt Downtown. The mother of two was with her niece but they parted in the city centre.

“I have visited Kenyatta, Avenue, MP Shah and Nairobi hospitals and I am now going to Coptic hospital where some of the injured were taken,” he said.

Police are yet to start a forensic investigation to determine the cause of the fire. An investigation team has, however, been put together, the Nation learned.