Some Wajir leaders have promised to support businesses affected by the fire that razed a popular market in Wajir town.
Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed in the Sunday night fire at Soko Mjinga market.
No death was reported but many were injured as they tried to salvage their valuables.
The leaders however called on the Wajir government to put up sophisticated and structured firefighting measures for swift action in averting similar incidents.
Some of them visited the scene to empathise with the affected people.
The cause of the fire is yet to be known but the incident is under investigation.
Mohamed Adow said he hopes law enforcement authorities will carry out expedited investigations to unravel the cause of the inferno.
“In the meantime, I implore the affected traders to exercise patience and restraint. I share in their pain and look forward to working with them in putting in place measures to forestall such fires,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
The affected traders have come up with a fundraising programme to help them rebuild.
Officials said they have received pledges, which are promising as many were left with no source of bread.
It is not the first time that the market is affected by the fire.
Many have lost property worth millions in similar incidents.
The Wajir government promised to take swift action and find the root cause of the recurrent fire outbreaks in business centres.
Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi said this is not the first a fire incident has been witnessed in Soko Mjinga market.
"As a county government, we will find the root cause. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with the traders and business owners who have lost their business," he said.
Elsewhere, Kenya Defence Forces personnel from Wajir Air Base responded to put off another fire at Basabra Market.
They said the fire started at around 9pm.
“However, a multi-agency team comprising of KDF, Kenya Airport Authority and county fire departments responded swiftly and put out the fire,” KDF said.
Experts are investigating the incident as residents start rebuilding their structures.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
