NAIROBI, Kenya – Four individuals, including a young child, were burned beyond recognition in a devastating fire that engulfed Toi Market.
The victims were reportedly attempting to salvage their belongings when the fire overwhelmed them, leading to a heart-wrenching loss of life.
The fire has impacted the livelihoods of approximately 2,000 traders, leaving many to grapple with substantial financial losses.
As traders mourn their loved ones and count the cost of the disaster, suspicions about the cause of the fire have emerged.
Kenneth Jumba, the Toi Market chair, hinted at possible foul play, noting the market’s unfortunate history of frequent fires.
“We have never received the report on what caused the fire that we experienced last year. We are used to them,” he lamented.
This latest fire is not an isolated incident. The market has a grim history of such tragedies, with significant fires recorded in June 2023, November 2021, and multiple instances in previous years, including 2019 and 2014.
Each time, traders have faced the painful task of rebuilding their lives and businesses from the ashes.
One of the critical issues exacerbating the situation is the lack of proper access roads, which has consistently hampered the swift response of fire services.
The repeated infernos have led to calls for thorough investigations and accountability.
Back in 2018, after three fires in one year, then-President Uhuru Kenyatta demanded investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice.
