Written by Kelly Were
Traders at Gikomba market are counting heavy losses after an early morning fire ravaged the ‘Kwa Mbao’ area on Tuesday.
The blaze, which broke out around 3 a.m., destroyed at least 500 businesses and affected sections of the nearby bus station.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, many traders suspect it could have been caused by a power fault.
This incident follows a similar fire just a month ago, on March 1, which also left traders devastated.
Gikomba market has a long history of frequent fires, often leaving traders with millions of shillings in damages.
The ‘Kwa Mbao’ section, in particular, has been a frequent target. Traders have long suspected foul play, with some believing the fires are acts of deliberate arson aimed at pushing vendors out of the area.
In response, over 900 traders who have suffered from these fires filed a lawsuit against the Nairobi County Government in 2021, seeking Ksh20 billion in compensation for their losses. They argue that the county has failed to take adequate action to prevent the fires.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who took office in 2022, has acknowledged the problem and promised to take action to protect Gikomba from land grabbers, who are believed to be behind some of the fires.
While the latest blaze continues to be investigated, traders are once again left to pick up the pieces, hoping for stronger measures to prevent future incidents.
