This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, a devastating fire swept through a section of Nairobi's Gikomba market, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The fire, which broke out at 2am, consumed cereals, second-hand clothes, and other valuable items, causing losses estimated to be in the millions of shillings.
Traders, who had been up all night battling the inferno, were left to pick up the pieces and salvage what was left of their goods.
As the final flames were extinguished, the traders were left to wonder if this was the last of what had become the norm in Gikomba market.
"Eking out a living from this place is turning into an impossible venture. These constant fires are now too much. This is so wrong and should stop," said Wanjiku, a trader who spoke to the Nation.
With the market still reeling from the effects of the fire, traders are left to ponder the future of their businesses and the impact of these recurring fires on their livelihoods.
