Traders at Isiolo market are counting losses running into millions of shillings after fire destroyed their property last night.
The fire whose cause remains unknown spread to the adjacent Tumtum informal settlement rendering at least 20 families homeless.
Ben Mugambi, a trader and landlord at the market, lost seven stalls in the night inferno that broke out at midnight.
“The County government fire fighting department failed to act swiftly to contain the fire despite traders making calls asking for help. A team that responded did not have enough water to put out the fire,” Mugambi said.
Several cereal stores, wholesale and small retail shops were consumed by the fire, with traders unable to salvage anything.
Abdi Mumin, a resident at Tumtum said the fire incident was not the first at the Isiolo market.
“This is not the first time something like this is happening but it has never extended to the Tumtum area and made the already poor and vulnerable families, homeless,” Mumin said.
He called on the county government, the Kenya Red Cross and other well-wishers to help those affected to get shelter and food as they come to terms with the massive loss.
Angry traders and residents believe the fire could be an act of arson considering that each of the two previous fire outbreaks at the market happened soon after the general elections.
They called on the incoming county government to thoroughly investigate the incident over its suspicious nature.
