The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Traders at Nairobi’s Gikomba Market are reeling from heavy losses after a fire swept through parts of the busy open-air market, destroying goods worth millions of shillings and leaving hundreds of families without a source of income.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, reduced stalls and merchandise to ashes, forcing traders to confront the reality of starting over from scratch.
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Many affected business owners said they lost all their stock and have no alternative means of livelihood.
One trader, Lydia Aurelia, described receiving early morning alerts about the fire as panic spread through the market.
She said she was first informed around 2 a.m. that a fire had broken out, with efforts reportedly underway to contain it. Later, she was told the situation had been brought under control, only to discover hours later that everything had been destroyed.
Aurelia said she lost all her merchandise, including clothes that were meant for sale in the coming week, leaving her with no income or savings.
She added that the disaster has affected entire families who depend on the market for daily survival, including education and medical support.
She also expressed frustration, saying traders in the affected section were not given adequate notice to relocate despite earlier discussions about possible market restructuring.
Another trader, Mercy Muthoni, described the incident as heartbreaking, saying years of hard work and investment were wiped out within hours.
She called for improved emergency response systems at the market, arguing that faster access to firefighting services could have reduced the scale of destruction.
The fire has once again raised concerns over safety and preparedness at Gikomba Market, which has experienced repeated infernos over the years.
Former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo also expressed sympathy for the affected traders, describing the incident as another devastating blow to livelihoods at the market.
She called for urgent reforms, including better market planning, improved fire safety infrastructure, and thorough investigations into the recurring fires.
Odhiambo further urged authorities to ensure accountability and provide support, compensation, and long-term solutions to protect traders from future disasters.
