Investigations underway into market fires after President’s directive
He pointed out that the fires cannot be brushed off as accidents, given how often they occur.
After yet another fire incident at Gikomba Market, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that the government is taking firm action to get to the bottom of the recurring fires that continue to destroy property and displace traders in Nairobi’s busiest markets.
Kindiki said the move follows a directive from President William Ruto to relevant agencies to investigate the cause of the fires in Gikomba, Toi, and other markets.
"Going forward, Gikomba, Toi, and other markets that have had repeated incidents of fire, we must go to the root cause, and therefore, the president has directed relevant agencies to investigate," said Kindiki while addressing traders who had suffered losses in the latest fire incident in Gikomba.
He pointed out that the fires cannot be brushed off as accidents, given how often they occur.
"The causes of these fires, it doesn’t make sense to imagine that all these things are accidents because they keep on happening year in, year out. That work is ongoing, and we are going to make sure that we get to the root of this matter and solve it once and for all," he added.
Kindiki also highlighted the government’s broader plans to improve market infrastructure and provide a safer and more organized space for business.
He revealed that at least 10 high-rise modern markets will be constructed in places like Gikomba, Toi, and Muthurwa.
These will form part of a wider national effort to build 400 modern markets across the country.
"Our agenda for business people is to ensure that all traders have dignified places to conduct their businesses. BottomUp Economic Transformation means that even business people who have small, micro and medium businesses should trade in a dignified place with all facilities they require," Kindiki said.
He noted that each market will be equipped with key facilities, including water, lighting, and proper infrastructure.
"Water, lighting, good infrastructure, and that is why we are constructing 400 modern markets across Kenya," he added.
According to Kindiki, the 10 markets within Nairobi are being developed by the national government, after which they will be handed over to the county governments to manage in collaboration with traders.
"Once we finish constructing, we will hand them over to the respective county governments to run them together with the traders so that we will not be having this issue of fire every time," he said.
The Deputy President also said that both the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) have been instructed to begin work on expanding access roads in Gikomba, Muthurwa, and Toi Markets.
This is expected to improve movement within the markets and allow quick response in case of emergencies.
Over the years, repeated market fires have left thousands of traders counting losses, especially in Gikomba and Toi, which are known hubs for second-hand clothes dealers, food vendors, and carpenters.
Despite numerous government pledges to act after each fire, traders say the risks have only grown, with little change on the ground.
In 2018, Gikomba witnessed three fires that claimed 15 lives and injured at least 60 others.
The incident prompted former President Uhuru Kenyatta to order investigations.
Senators also asked then-DCI boss George Kinoti to probe the incident after claims that it had started in multiple locations.
No report was ever made public.
The destruction caused by these fires has hit a wide section of the informal economy.
With each incident, traders are forced to start over, and calls for justice and prevention continue to rise.
While Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had promised to construct 20 markets as part of his development pledge, the actual implementation has not met the pace of traders’ needs.