This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
On June 25, 2020, a fire broke out at Nairobi's Gikomba market, consuming an unknown amount of properties and leaving traders reeling.
The fire, which started at around 6:30 a.m., destroyed cereals and mitumba structures in the area opposite the COTU offices.
Despite efforts by traders to battle the fire and salvage their properties, the blaze proved too intense, and the situation quickly spiralled out of control.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has raised concerns about the safety of the market and the need for urgent action to prevent such incidents in the future.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company shut down power lines in the affected area, citing safety concerns.
"The main line has been controlled due to a fire incidence in Gikomba. Power will be restored as soon as possible," the company tweeted.
The fire is the latest in a series of incidents to hit the market, which has been plagued by fires in recent years.
Some Kenyans have taken to social media to demand answers from the government, with one user asking, "If my memory serves me right, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered Sonko to form a committee to investigate the causes of Gikomba fires. What were the findings? What were the recommendations? Forget it, we have like 78,346 committees in this country and none has been fruitful."
