This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, a fire broke out at the Gikomba market in Nairobi's Kamukunji area, just a few minutes after 4am.
The fire, preceded by a loud bang, razed several stalls and caused smoke to billow from the market.
The area most affected was the cereals and 'mitumba' sections of the Gikomba market adjacent to the Solidarity Building, which houses the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) offices.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company had disconnected power supply to the Gikomba market to prevent an increase in the intensity of the fire.
Gikomba market is known for various businesses, including the sale of second-hand clothes, furniture-making, and trading in food items.
Many traders are counting losses following the fire outbreak, which is the latest in a series of fires to hit the market in the past.
