NAIROBI, Kenya – Traders at Gikomba Market are facing yet another devastating blow after a fire tore through their stalls early on Tuesday morning.
The inferno, which broke out around 3 a.m. in the ‘Kwa Mbao’ section near the fire station, destroyed at least 500 businesses and spread to a nearby bus station.
While no injuries have been reported, the traders are left to count their losses once more.
Many suspect the fire may have been caused by a faulty power connection, though investigations are still ongoing.
This is not the first time Gikomba Market has fallen victim to such a disaster.
Just over a month ago, in March 2024, the ‘Kwa Mbao’ section was hit by another fire, whose extent and cost of damage remain unclear.
The market, known as East Africa’s largest open-air market, has suffered frequent fires over the years, with traders enduring substantial losses each time.
A History of Destruction
Gikomba has witnessed annual fires that have crippled the livelihoods of its traders.
The market has been struck by fire in the years 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and most recently in 2024.
Last December, another inferno destroyed a section of the market, with reports indicating that it began in the section dealing with shoes before rapidly spreading across the area.
In November 2021, as Nairobi experienced heavy rainfall, traders faced their second fire of the month, leaving them counting yet another significant financial loss.
The same year saw several other fires, with February and August also marked by destructive flames.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred in April 2019 when more than 2,000 structures were destroyed in a massive blaze.
In June 2018, a deadly fire took the lives of at least 15 people and injured more than 60 others.
The continuous destruction has sparked calls for urgent intervention from both local and national leaders.
In October 2022, Kamkunji MP Yussuf Hassan called on President William Ruto to declare Gikomba Market a disaster area after a fire destroyed millions worth of property.
He expressed his frustration with the recurring devastation and appealed to both President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for immediate action.
“This is another day of utter devastation, destruction, and despair for the traders and residents. I’m appealing to the authorities to declare Gikomba a disaster area,” Hassan said, as he pointed out the lack of progress on fire prevention measures.
Unfulfilled Promises
Despite these repeated disasters, efforts to improve fire safety at the market have been sluggish.
The Nairobi County Government awarded a contract in April 2024 to build a fire station at Gikomba, with a budget allocation of Sh59.98 million.
However, there has been no visible progress on the project, leaving the market vulnerable to more frequent fires.
While firefighters from Nairobi County managed to extinguish the flames after a protracted battle, the traders’ frustration is palpable.
Many are calling for better infrastructure, reliable fire prevention systems, and more immediate action from both the national and county governments to put an end to the annual cycle of destruction.
