Gikomba market traders counting losses after another fire incident

Traders in the famous Gikomba market on Wednesday woke up to count their losses after a fire erupted razing down property of unknown value.

According to the witnesses on the ground, the fire broke out at a little past midnight.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan said the fire razed the southern part of the market opposite Jua Kali and adjacent to Muthurwa Primary School in Pumwani.

He said firefighters from various government units including the KDF responded on scene and brought the fire under control.

It is barely three months since the same market went in flames, levelling a section to the ground.

The government, after the August fire, promised to set up CCTV cameras around the market as a security measure to ensure that there is no hand in the frequent fires.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho gave the directive while touring the market on August 6, 2021, further giving the contractor in charge of the installations 7 days to complete the job.

“We will improve on the lighting, we have directed the regional team to map 10 lighting points and those lights we will add CCTV cameras,” PS Kibicho said then.

Kibicho also noted that accessibility into the market is a major challenge during emergencies.

He said the government completed a new closed market in Gikomba and another one will be ready by June next year.

According to PS Kibicho, this will reduce the number of traders that have encroached on roads.

The PS had in June said the government was seeking to identify individuals believed to be behind the recurrent burning down of property at the Gikomba market.

He stated that the government believes the fires are not natural, adding that a desk had been set up at the fifth floor of Nyayo House to probe all information and leads that could unmask the cartels that have continued to bring untold pain and suffering to innocent Gikomba traders.

“We in government do not believe these fires are natural. We believe that there are some people who think that by displacing the business people here they will have an opportunity to develop this land on selfish grounds,” said Kibicho.

The status of the probe as well as the CCTV cameras however remain uncertain.