The national government, in partnership with the Garissa County Government, announced a Sh500 million plan to reconstruct the popular Suuq Mugdi market into a modern trading hub.

An investigation into the cause of a recent fire that gutted Suuq Mugdi market is still pending. Detectives have gathered data from the scene and are in advanced stages of the probe.

Speaking during a visit to the site on Friday, Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo confirmed that a team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has already collected samples from the burnt-out market to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unknown.

“The fire incidents in this market have become far too common. This one has been the most devastating in our region’s history. Investigations are ongoing, and several individuals, including the market chairman, will be required to record statements,” said Mwabudzo.

The County Commissioner also confirmed that the government has temporarily closed the market to allow space for thorough investigations and to ensure the safety of the affected traders.

The fire, which erupted at around 7:00 a.m., on June 30, 2025, swept through large sections of the busy Suuq Mugdi market, located along Posta Road, destroying dozens of stalls and goods worth millions of shillings.

Firefighters, the Kenya Red Cross and local volunteers battled the flames for hours before finally containing the blaze.

Kenya Red Cross reported that it dispatched a multi-agency response team to the scene, providing first aid to five individuals and assisting in containment efforts.

Mwabudzo announced the construction of a modern market at a cost of Sh500 million, part of the Kenya Kwanza government’s ongoing initiatives to establish safe and decent trading environments across the country.

“The new Suuq Mugdi Modern Market will be built to better standards of fire safety, accessibility, and modern facilities will be a priority,” said Mwabudzo.

However, many traders are still grappling with the aftermath of the fire, struggling to rebuild their lives and businesses.

Fatuma Osman, a mother of four and longtime vendor at the market, said she lost everything in the inferno.

“I’ve been coming to this market for over 10 years. All my stock went up in flames. I have no capital to restart, and now we’re being told to wait even longer for investigations,” she lamented.

Abdi Noor, a shoe seller, said the closure of the market has left him jobless.

“We understand investigations are important, but we’re now sitting at home with no income. Some of us were living hand-to-mouth. The government should speed up support for us,” he said.

The upcoming market in Garissa will be part of a national initiative to build over 400 modern markets across the country, designed to support fresh produce farmers and traders by reducing post-harvest losses through improved infrastructure and technology.

Upon completion, the new Suuq Mugdi Market will be equipped with key amenities including a cold storage facility, an ICT hub, a food court, and essential services such as clean water, electricity, proper sanitation, and garbage disposal systems.

These upgrades are expected to significantly improve the working environment for traders, enabling them to conduct business in safer, more dignified, and efficient conditions.