Hundreds of businesses were destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday, April 1, when a devastating fire tore through a section of Gikomba Market.
According to media reports, the fire which broke out around 4 am rapidly spread through the market, engulfing shops and stalls that were stocked with goods ranging from clothes to foodstuffs.
Traders who responded to the scene were left in shock and disbelief as they watched their livelihoods go up in smoke.
A witness, who is also a trader at the market, shared their harrowing experience of the devastating incident.
“We received a call at around 4 am that there was a fire. When we arrived at the scene, we couldn’t save anything,” the business owner lamented.
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Firefighters were called to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the flames had already caused extensive damage.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The fire marks the latest in a series of similar incidents that have plagued the market over the years.
For instance, in October 2021, traders at the market were left counting losses after a fire razed down a section of the market.
Reports indicated that the fire started at the Southern part of the market near Muthurwa Primary School in Pumwani, destroying property of unknown value.
The incident was handled by firefighters from various units including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)
“Saddened that the section of the market has been gutted by yet another fire and traders are face incalculable losses,” Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan said at the time.
Elsewhere in December 2024, a fire in Gikomba Market resulted in the death of a trader and significant property loss.
In response, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja provided Ksh200,000 to the bereaved family and pledged Ksh2.4 million to assist affected traders.
He also reiterated commitments to expedite the construction of the fire station and secure an exclusive title deed for the market land.
"With Gikomba traders earlier today when I delivered support worth Ksh 2.4 million as well as 200k to the family of Alfred Mugo Wahome who unfortunately succumbed after an inferno at Gikomba. I updated them on the progress we’ve made on the fire station whose construction will commence soon," he said.
