Flames engulfed Gikomba Market in the wee hours of Monday morning. On Monday morning, efforts to suppress the fire were still in top gear as distraught traders and county employees trooped to the market to salvage leftovers and assess the damage.
According to photos posted online, a huge fire engulfed stalls in the market, although the cause of fire or the extent of the damage caused has not been determined yet. Some traders who lost property said they were alerted about the fire around 1 am on Monday.
Although Nairobi County fire engines reached the scene on time, they had a hard time putting out the fire as the flames rose high and burned relentlessly.
Gikomba market has battled multiple fire incidents in the recent past, the most recent being in June, August, and October. This recent fire incident comes days after 174 traders are bound to be replaced by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service with the aim of extending the Pumwani Majengo Health Centre.