The recent fire at Magunas Supermarket in Meru County, which occurred amidst the Saba Saba protests, highlights a growing concern in Kenya’s urban landscape- the vulnerability of commercial buildings to fire-related incidents,
especially during periods of civil unrest.
While the broader context of the Gen Z-led protests continues to evolve, the event has reignited critical conversations around fire resistance in structural design, and more importantly, the necessity of post-fire structural assessment.

The Role of Fire Resistance in Building Design
Modern buildings are required to meet fire resistance standards, typically designed to withstand high temperatures for 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on occupancy, usage, and classification. These measures are not just regulatory checkboxes but essential for protecting human life, safeguarding investments, and ensuring the building’s structural performance under duress.
Structural components such as reinforced concrete, steel frames, and load-bearing walls may appear visually intact after a fire, but internal material degradation can significantly reduce their load-carrying capacity.

The Importance of a Post-Fire Structural Audit
When a fire event occurs-whether through accidental ignition or external interference-it becomes imperative to
undertake a structural audit. This process assesses:

Residual strength of structural elements

Thermal damage to concrete and reinforcement steel

Integrity of floor systems and roofing structures

Changes in load distribution due to weakened elements

This assessment is essential before any repair, renovation, or re-occupation can proceed.

Engineering Practice and Fire Events
In structural engineering practice, post-incident evaluations are a core service-particularly for buildings exposed to
elevated temperatures, deformation, or partial collapse. These evaluations often use a combination of:

Visual inspections

Non-destructive testing (NDT)

Material sampling

Finite element modeling (FEM) for damage simulation

Such a technical approach ensures that decisions about demolition, retrofitting, or reinstatement are based on evidence, not assumptions.

Lessons for Developers and Property Managers
The Magunas Supermarket fire is a sobering example of why fire resilience and emergency preparedness must remain a central focus in structural design and facility management.
As urban centres become more dynamic-and sometimes volatile-proactive engineering oversight can make the
difference between a recoverable incident and total structural failure.
If your building has been exposed to fire, vandalism, or structural shock, seeking an independent structural evaluation is not just best practice-it’s essential for legal compliance, safety, and long-term asset preservation.

At Recon Engineering International, we support developers, property owners, and institutions by providing technical
assessments, post-incident audits, and evidence-based recommendations to guide recovery efforts. Our team is
equipped to carry out timely, compliant evaluations across various building typologies throughout Kenya.