Gikomba market has burned again in 2020, it comes as a no surprise, by now most of us can even predict when the next fire will be as for decades now, the market burns several times in a year.
In February, the month of love opened its first day in Gikomba with a fire that left business owners confused with the fire starting at around 4 am a being put out at around 8 am.
The fires have been said to be cases of arson with most traders noting that they fires are normally started for two reasons, one is by fraudulent traders who want to be compensated by insurance companies fraudulent and the other could be by cartels that want to scare away traders from the market.
Whatever the reason, the fires are expensive and deeply hurt the traders who are innocent, we take a look at the fires that have occured in Gikomba market in the last half a decade:
Gikomba Market 2020 Fires
Gikomba market has today burnt down in the early morning hours at around 3am, 25th June 2020, at around the cereals and mitumba sections just opposite the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) offices.
Gikomba burnt down on 1st February 2020 around the timber area and property worth millions was reduced to ashes in the fire that began at 4 am and was put out at around 8 am.
Gikomba 2019 Fire
The latest of the Gikomba fires happened on 6th February 2019 Wednesday night at around 10 pm where traders once again lost the property of unknown value to the raging fire. There were no reported casualties in the incident that occurred at around 10 pm when traders had already left the market.
Gikomba Fire in 2018
On June 28th, 2018, exactly seven months after the last fire in October, the flames raged on once more at the Kwa Mbao section and traders watched in disbelief as all their efforts to rebuild were turned to ashes.
It was the 7th time the Gikomba market was burning in less than 5 years and timber and second-hand clothes went up in flames.
A dark day in the history of Gikomba fires was marked as unlike previous fires where the property was reported lost, 15 people died; some were burnt to death while others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals.
Over 70 people were seriously injured and Kenyans hoped that was the last they would hear of fires at the Gikomba market but that was never to be the case.
The pain was to be renewed even before the traders could rebuild as a few months later on 7th November when the fire reoccurred and with it, property worth millions were burnt to ashes, this time around, however, there were no casualties.
Gikomba Fire in 2017
Gikomba traders had a rest from the fires in 2016 and hope was renewed as business began to thrive. The fires were soon forgotten only for the traders to wake up on a morning in September and find their goods burnt to ashes.
On10th September 2017 at around 7 am, another fire gutted down property worth millions, second-hand clothes and shoes were mostly affected.
On 6th October 2017, a fire broke up at around 3 am on a Friday morning and emergency efforts were heavily challenged by the market’s then inaccessible state leading a larger loss of property that should have been witnessed.
Gikomba Fire in 2015
On 23rd of January 2015, a fire broke out at 1 am and reduced clothes and shoes worth millions to ashes leaving behind a devastated lot of traders
On June 23rd, 2015, thousands of traders in the Gikomba market were counting massive losses after another fierce fire razed down more than half of the market.
Shocked traders teary narrated how they had outstanding loans they had applied to boost their business yet everything had been reduced to ashes.
Gikomba Fire in 2014
On 18th March 2014, a raging fire destroyed property worth millions at the Gikomba market, near Shauri Moyo lower bridge at around 8 pm as the traders watched on despair. An eyewitness who operated a hotel where the fire started reported that the inferno was generated by an alleged explosion at Joy stores which was adjacent to his eatery.
In 2014 October 15, Gikomba caught fire for the second time in the year at around 10 pm, property worth millions was burned down to ashes as the traders watched in despair, however, a number of traders were able to rescue several of their goods.
Traders continue to get angered at what they term as slow response pace from the fire department every time there is a fire at the market causing massive losses.
What Is The Government Saying On Gikomba Market Fires?
Then Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri linked Gikomba market fires to arson vowing stern action against those who would be found involved, he was soon moved from the department and his words were but mere feeding to the hungry angry traders.
“From the initial reports that we are getting, we are saddened that they appear to point at foul play. The government has set in motion investigations into the cause of this fire to fully establish what caused it,” Mwangi Kiunjuri was quoted while addressing a newsroom after the October 6 fire in 2017.
“Let it be known that stern action will be taken on the culprits should the investigations establish foul play,” Kiunjuri’s empty words remain ingrained in the mind of the traders
Directives to rebuild the market remain vague and orders to probe the cause of the fire are dropped before they can see the light of day. High sounding statements have been the norm every time fire ranges in the Gikomba market while a number of politicians have grabbed the trader’s tragedy to become popular with them and secure votes.
“The incident has displaced many traders from all over the country and investigations should be launched to find the culprits and action be taken against them,” President Kenyatta said after the October 7, 2017, fire adding with empty promises to build the traders a market.
“The Government will stand with the affected traders by building the market to enable them to continue with their business,” President Uhuru Kenyatta lied to the Gikomba market traders as 3 years later, his promise remains just that.
The Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was seen as the traders hope to end the tragic fires as he always rushed to their aid with a few blankets and free goodies prompting the traders to vote him into the county’s helm as the Nairobi Governor but even Sonko has been clueless on what could be ailing the Gikomba market a decade long.
As the media reports and the Government continues to lead on the Gikomba market traders without availing a long term solution, Kenyans cannot help but wonder, how many more fires will it take the Government to decisively act on the Gikomba market fires?
So what is the government saying on the Gikomba Market fires? NOTHING.
Read Also: Fire Blazes Gikomba Market For The 2nd Time This Year