Traders Suffer Losses as Morning Fire Sweeps Through Gikomba Market

Jukwaa

📻 Breaking It Down

Videos circulating online showed intense flames and thick plumes of smoke rising above the market as traders desperately tried to salvage their goods while sections of stalls were rapidly consumed by the fire.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, a major fire was reported at Gikomba Market at around 4:00 a.m., affecting several business premises.

The humanitarian agency confirmed that response teams, working alongside a multi-agency emergency unit, were deployed to the scene to support firefighting efforts and assess the needs of those affected.

📌 What You Need to Know

Emergency crews from the fire brigade and other agencies spent the morning battling the blaze and preventing it from spreading further into the densely packed sections of the market.

Authorities say the full extent of the damage is yet to be established, though fears remain high that losses could be substantial given the tightly packed wooden and metal structures that make up much of the market.

The fire adds to a long history of devastating infernos at Gikomba Market, which has repeatedly suffered similar incidents over the years, destroying goods worth millions of shillings and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of traders.

The recurring disasters have consistently raised concerns over safety standards, overcrowding, and emergency preparedness within the market.

In February, President William Ruto announced plans to construct a Sh5 billion modern market in Gikomba as part of a wider programme to upgrade trading infrastructure in Nairobi.

Speaking during the signing of a collaboration agreement between the national government and Nairobi City County Government at State House, the President said the planned facility would transform Gikomba into a modern, structured trading hub.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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