Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has made a commitment to assist the traders affected by a devastating fire that engulfed a significant portion of Toi market in Kibra, Nairobi county.
Following his visit to the affected market, Governor Sakaja expressed his sympathy for the traders and their substantial losses through social media.
In a tweet on Sunday night, Governor Sakaja acknowledged the tremendous losses suffered by the traders due to the inferno.
He stated, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the traders at Toi Market for their profound loss caused by last night’s fire. Poleni sana.”
Furthermore, he assured the affected traders that they would receive temporary material and food support while they awaited the commencement of the rebuilding process.
Governor Sakaja also emphasized the inclusion of plans to improve the road access within the market during the reconstruction project.
This measure would facilitate the entry of emergency vehicles in similar incidents, ensuring a swift response.
The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, razed thousands of stalls, leading to significant financial setbacks for the traders.
Some of the affected traders, speaking to Citizen Digital, reported that the fire originated from an electrical malfunction in one of the stalls, rapidly spreading to nearby structures.
Despite efforts to extinguish the flames promptly, the traders claimed that the fire brigade faced difficulties accessing the market due to limited entry points.
They stated that the firefighting team had to operate from the main road as they were unable to navigate through the market. Some traders alleged that three firefighting trucks arrived at the scene but lacked water supply.
“They arrived and stopped on the road, unable to provide assistance. There is limited access to the market, with gates erected in many areas,” voiced one trader. Another trader recounted, “I witnessed it myself; three trucks arrived, but they had no water. They informed us that they needed to obtain water from Nairobi water.”
Governor Sakaja’s commitment to aiding the affected traders and addressing the accessibility issues within the market offers hope for the recovery and reconstruction of Toi market, aiming to prevent future incidents from causing such extensive damage.
