LAIKIPIA, Kenya- A major fire broke out at Nanyuki New Market in Laikipia County, destroying property and disrupting business operations as traders scrambled to salvage goods from the raging inferno.
Videos and images shared online showed thick smoke billowing from the busy market as residents, traders and emergency responders battled the flames.
Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly through the market, raising concerns over fire preparedness and emergency response in one of the region’s busiest trading centres.
Authorities had not yet confirmed the cause of the blaze by the time of publication.
The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of open-air markets in Kenya, where fires have repeatedly left traders counting massive losses.
In recent months, similar infernos have been reported in markets across the country, including Nairobi’s Toi Market, where traders lost goods worth millions of shillings.
Nanyuki residents called for improved fire response infrastructure and tighter safety measures to protect traders from recurring market disasters.
Nanyuki, a fast-growing commercial town in Nanyuki, serves as a major economic hub for traders and farmers in the Mt Kenya region.
