Traders at Nanyuki new market in Laikipia County are counting millions in losses after an overnight fire broke out on Saturday, May 23.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The fire, whose cause is yet to be established, spread rapidly throughout the market, razing several stalls and properties worth millions of shillings.

Traders were left stranded as flames consumed their investments. Footage seen by Kenyans.co.ke shows hundreds gathered outside the market as a huge fire engulfed it, with little to no rescue being made.

Witnesses said huge flames and thick smoke engulfed the market for several hours as firefighters battled the inferno through the night.

📌 What You Need to Know

Following the inferno, emergency response teams from Laikipia County Government, the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), and Kenya Air Force personnel from Nanyuki Air Base were deployed to the scene to contain the blaze.

Before the response teams arrived at the scene, traders lamented the slow deployment of the emergency teams, saying it could have saved some of their investments.

The incident has sparked concern among residents over fire preparedness and emergency response in busy trading centres within the county.

No casualties had been reported by Sunday morning, even as the traders await official communication from authorities.

Nanyuki New Market is located at the town centre near the Mwisho wa Reli area in Laikipia County.

It has functioned as a highly organised and popular hub for local traders, renowned for fresh farm produce, consumer goods, and affordable local meals.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke