NAIROBI, Kenya — A massive fire broke out at Toi Market on Monday morning, destroying several stalls and disrupting normal operations as traders scrambled to salvage their goods.
The blaze erupted in the busy open-air market located in Kibra, sending thick plumes of smoke high into the sky and drawing large crowds of onlookers from nearby neighbourhoods.
Images and videos seen by Y news showed flames tearing through sections of the market as traders rushed to rescue merchandise from the burning stalls. The smoke was visible from several parts of the capital, raising alarm among residents and commuters during the morning hours.
The market lies near Moi Girls’ School, prompting initial fears among some residents that the fire may have originated from the neighbouring institution. However, witnesses and early reports from the scene indicated that the inferno started within the market itself.
Emergency responders, including firefighters from Nairobi City County Government, were deployed to the scene and were battling the blaze as of the time of publication.
Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly through several stalls before emergency teams arrived, fueled by the densely packed structures and flammable materials commonly used in informal market stalls.
“By the time firefighters got here, several stalls were already engulfed,” one trader at the scene said as efforts continued to contain the flames.
Traders at the market, many of whom rely on daily sales for their livelihoods, began counting losses as the extent of the destruction gradually became visible. The value of the goods destroyed had not been immediately established by authorities.
Toi Market is one of Nairobi’s largest informal trading hubs, known for its second-hand clothing, household items, and small-scale retail businesses that attract thousands of shoppers each day.
Authorities had not immediately confirmed the cause of the fire, and investigations are expected once the blaze is fully contained.
Firefighters continued working to bring the situation under control while traders and residents watched anxiously from nearby streets.
More details are expected to emerge as emergency crews assess the scale of the damage and officials begin documenting losses suffered by traders.
