Two people died and several others were injured after a massive fire tore through Nairobi’s Gikomba Market in the early hours of Sunday, destroying property worth millions of shillings and raising questions about safety measures at the city’s largest open-air market.
The cause of the fire had not been established bas of Sunday evening, but the blaze left large sections of the market in ruins, with traders returning at daybreak to assess the damage and salvage whatever they could from the debris.
“I could not save anything,” one trader said, estimating her losses at more than 100,000.
Preliminary assessments by Nairobi County indicated that extensive damage was caused across the market, with traders reporting substantial financial losses.
According to Gikomba Traders Association chairman Mugo Kibathi, about 75 per cent of the market was affected by the fire, disrupting the livelihoods of nearly 50,000 people.
“Millions of shillings in investments have gone up in smoke,” Mr Kibathi said.
The latest inferno has renewed scrutiny over the delayed construction of a fire station adjacent to the market, a project traders say could significantly improve emergency response and reduce the impact of future disasters.
The facility was expected to be completed within six months and was prioritised by Governor Johnson Sakaja after he took office in 2022. However, despite assurances from the county government, the project remains incomplete.
Questions over the project’s implementation have also emerged following findings by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, who noted irregularities in documentation relating to payments made to the contractor.
“The inspection and acceptance certificate dated June 28, 2024, for Sh30,024,578 was not supported by a technical report detailing the work completed and the remaining works, making it difficult to assess progress against the contract period,” the Auditor-General observed.
Mr Kibathi criticised the delay, saying: “That is negligence on the part of Nairobi County officials. When we visited the State House with the governor, he promised us in the presence of President William Ruto that the remaining works would be completed within three months. To date, that has not happened.”
The recurring fires at Gikomba have long been a source of concern due to the market’s congested layout, narrow access routes and densely packed stalls, which often hinder firefighting efforts.
Former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo said the repeated incidents pointed to broader failures in planning and disaster preparedness.
“What Gikomba needs is proper market planning, effective fire safety infrastructure and transparent investigations into these recurring infernos that continue to target one of Nairobi’s most important economic centres,” she said.
“No family should have to repeatedly rebuild from ashes while questions about safety, accountability and lasting solutions remain unanswered.”
She added: “We stand in solidarity with Gikomba traders and commit to amplifying their call for justice, compensation, and lasting reforms so that ‘never again’ finally means something.”
As investigations continue, concerns have resurfaced among some traders that the repeated fires could be linked to attempts to grab the valuable market land, although no evidence has been produced to support the claims.
Governor Sakaja dismissed fears of displacement and assured traders they would retain their trading spaces.
“I assure you that no one will take advantage of this fire to displace any trader from their space. We will allow all traders to rebuild where they were, even as we continue with plans to modernise Gikomba,” the governor said.
He added: “My administration is reviewing immediate measures to support recovery efforts and help traders get back on their feet. We will not abandon you,” he said.
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