A fire broke out yet again at the Gikomba Market in Nairobi destroying property and structures.
The fire razed the southern part of the busy market opposite Jua Kali area near Muthurwa Primary School in Pumwani.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan said the fire razed many structures and urged for a permanent solution to the trend. Police said no injuries were reported.
The fire broke out at night and was only contained in the morning hours of Wednesday morning.
Firefighters from various government units including the KDF arrived at the scene to contain the blaze.
The cause of the fire is yet to be known but property worth millions of shillings was destroyed.
In August, another fire broke out at the market near Mololine. It razed four residential flats in the area.
The government has on many occasions promised to end the perennial fire breakouts in the area.
In June last year, the market’s cereals and second-hand clothing sections were burnt in suspected arson attacks.
On February 1 the same year, property of unknown value was reduced to ashes in yet another fire incident.
In 2019, Kenya’s largest open-air market went up in flames at least three times.
The government, after the August fire, said CCTV cameras will be set up around the market as a security measure to ensure that there is no human hand in the fire outbreaks.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho gave the directive while touring the market on August 6. He gave the contractor in charge of the installations seven days to complete the job.
“We will improve on the lighting, we have directed the regional team to map 10 lighting points and to those lights, we will add CCTV cameras,” PS Kibicho said.
Kibicho said accessibility into the market still remains a big challenge, especially during emergencies.
He said the government completed a new closed market in Gikomba and another one will be ready by June next year.
The new markets are expected to reduce the number of traders who have encroached on roads.
Kibicho had in June said the government was seeking to identify individuals believed to be behind the recurrent burning down of property at Gikomba market.
He said the government believed the incidents are not natural adding that a desk had been set up at the fifth floor of Nyayo House to probe all information and leads that could unmask the cartels that have continued to bring untold pain and suffering to innocent Gikomba traders.
“We in government do not believe these fires are natural. We believe that there are some people who think that by displacing the business people here they will have an opportunity to develop this land on selfish grounds,” Kibicho said.
Edited by P.O
