Traders count losses as fire razes section of Gikomba Market

Traders are counting losses after a fire broke out at Nairobi's Gikomba Market early Sunday morning, affecting several business premises and causing significant damage.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, the fire is believed to have started at around 4 am.

The extent of the losses has not yet been established, but emergency response efforts are ongoing.

The humanitarian agency said it had deployed teams to the scene as part of a multi-agency response aimed at containing the situation and supporting those affected by the incident.

"The Kenya Red Cross, alongside a multi-agency response team, is on the ground supporting emergency response efforts and assessing the needs of those affected," the organization said in a statement.

Authorities had not immediately disclosed the cause of the fire, while assessments were underway to determine the scale of the damage and the number of traders impacted.

The fire is said to have razed property near Gikomba's Gorofani, causing extensive damage.

No casualties have been reported.

Gikomba Market, one of the country's largest open-air markets, has experienced several major fire incidents over the years, resulting in substantial losses for traders.

In May last year, a major fire broke out early Sunday morning in the footwear section of Gikomba Market, near Lamu Road in Majengo, Pumwani.

That was barely two months after a similar fire occurred in the market on April 1, 2025.

Earlier, on March 1, 2024, another fire struck the same ‘Kwa Mbao’ section, destroying property of unknown value.

Unpredictable blazes have hit the market in 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, leaving traders with heavy losses and few answers.

Traders now find themselves once again counting losses and calling for long-term solutions to prevent future tragedies.