Traders at Hagadera market counting huge looses following inferno.

Fire razing down the Hagadera market in Fafi sub-county/STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Traders at Hagadera Market in Fafi subcounty are counting losses after a fierce fire razed stalls and goods worth millions of shillings on Tuesday morning.

The blaze, which started late Monday evening, tore through the tightly packed wooden structures before emergency teams from the Kenya Red Cross and local fire departments contained it.

By dawn, little remained of Garissa County’s busiest markets.

Hagadera Market, located at the heart of the Hagadera refugee camp, has long been a vital commercial hub serving both locals and refugees.

Known for its vibrant atmosphere and array of goods — from fresh produce to clothes, electronics and household items — the market has been a symbol of economic resilience in a region where opportunities are scarce.

Witnesses say the fire spread rapidly due to congestion of stalls and the predominance of flammable building materials.

Preliminary reports suggest it may have started in one of the wooden shops, though investigations are ongoing.

Several people sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the IRC Hospital, where they were treated and discharged.

Halima Osman, a trader dealing in clothes and shoes, said she lost nearly all her stock.

“Everything happened so fast. One moment, we were serving customers; the next, people were screaming that there was a fire. We tried to salvage what we could, but most of it was gone before firefighters arrived,” she said.

For electronics dealer Abdirizak Noor, the destruction was total. “Where do I even start? Everything I owned has been reduced to ashes. This is not the first time such a fire has happened here. For how long will we continue suffering losses like this?” he asked

Mohamed Hussein accused authorities and humanitarian agencies of neglecting the market’s safety needs.

“There are no access roads or water bowsers nearby. Every time a disaster strikes, we are left to fend for ourselves. It’s heartbreaking,” he said.

As smoke cleared from the ruins of what was once a bustling trading centre, many traders could only watch helplessly — their livelihoods gone up in flames yet again, with little signs of support in sight.