Fire rages southern part of Gikomba Market

A fierce fire raged through the southern part of the Gikomba Market opposite Jua Kali, Nairobi leading to losses of property in the area.

The incident happened near Muthurwa Primary School in Pumwani affecting several structures, witnesses said.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament, Yusuf Hassan, said the fire razed many structures and urged for a permanent solution to the trend.

Police said no injuries were reported. This is yet another fire to affect the market on Tuesday night spreading through Wednesday morning.

Firefighters from various government units including the Kenya Defence Forces arrived at the scene to contain the spread of the fire.

The cause of the fire is yet to be known but property worth millions of shillings was destroyed.

In August this year, another fire broke out affecting traders with stores along the Molo Line area also known as Ghorofani.

The fire also razed down four residential flats in the area forcing residents to spend the night in the cold.

The government has on many occasions promised to end the perennial problem.

In June last year, an inferno razed down the market’s cereals and second-hand clothing sections.

On February 1 the same year, property of unknown value was reduced to ashes at the market.

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 hand in the frequent fires.

Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, gave the directive while touring the market on August 6, 2021, further giving 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 for those lights we will add CCTV cameras,” Kibicho said.

Kibicho said accessibility into the market is a major challenge during emergencies.

He said the government completed a new closed market in Gikomba and another one will be ready by June next year.

According to Kibicho, this will reduce the number of traders that have encroached on roads.

The PS had in June said the government was seeking to identify individuals believed to be behind the recurrent burning down of property at the Gikomba market.

He stated that the government believes 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.

The status of the probe as well as the CCTV cameras however remain unknown.

Edited by D Tarus