Gikomba traders are yet again counting losses after fire razed their stalls on Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out in the 'Kwa Mbao' area near the fire station at around 3 am, destroying at least 500 businesses.
The fire extended to a section of a nearby bus station.
Traders suspect the inferno might have been caused by a faulty power connection.
No injuries have been reported so far.
In March 1, 2024, the ‘Kwa Mbao’ section was victim to another fire which destroyed property of unknown value.
Gikomba Market, East Africa’s largest open-air market, has experienced unpredictable fires annually, often leaving business owners counting devastating losses.
Gikomba has had its annual fires in the past years 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
In December 2024, another fire razed a section of the market.
Then, police and witnesses said the fire broke out from the section that handles shoes, spreading fast.
On November 28, 2021, as Nairobi was experiencing heavy rainfall, traders were once again crying in pain as commodities of unknown value were destroyed in another mysterious fire.
This was the second time that month and the fifth in 2021 that the traders were counting millions of shillings in losses after fire razed their commodities.
In February 2021, a mysterious fire visited the open-air market, and another one in August.
On April 10, 2019, more than 2,000 structures were razed down as a section of the market was gutted by fire.
In June 2018, a deadly fire broke out in the same area, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 60 others.
In October 2022, Kamkunji MP Yussuf Hassan called on President William Ruto to declare Gikomba market a disaster area.
This was after a fire razed part of the market, destroying property worth millions.
“Another fire in Gikomba, another day of utter devastation, destruction and despair for the traders and residents. I'm appealing to Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja to declare Gikomba a disaster area," Hassan said.
The fire has ravaged Gashosho and Dry Fish markets and gutted blocks of Gorofani and Bondeni estates
Despite the destruction, firefighters from Nairobi County put out the fire after a 'battle'.
The fire ravaged Gashosho and Dry Fish markets and gutted blocks of Gorofani and Bondeni estates.
Despite the Nairobi City County Government awarding a contract for a fires station at the market, nothing has materialised yet.
The Nairobi County Government awarded the contract in April last year, but there has been no visible progress, leaving traders vulnerable to recurring fires that have destroyed property worth millions.
The project was allocated a budget of Sh59,983,103.
