Silverio Omari
Four people, including a child, have been reported to be burnt beyond recognition following a fire that razed down Toi Market. The victims were attempting to save their belongings when they were overpowered by the flames.
The blaze has affected at least 2,000 traders, leaving many counting their losses. Toi Market chair Kenneth Jumba suspects that the fire was started intentionally.
“We have never received a report on what caused the fire that we experienced last year. We are used to them,” Kenneth said.
This is not the first time the market has gone up in flames. The market has become prone to frequent fires. In June 2023, traders woke up to find their property worth millions of shillings destroyed. In November 2021, a fire razed a section of stalls at the market, leaving traders with heavy losses. In 2019, two fires broke out in the market within four years, following a 2014 fire outbreak that destroyed property of unknown value.
The lack of access roads has been blamed for the slow response of fire services. In 2018, the market experienced three fire incidents, prompting then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to call for investigations and for the culprits to be brought to justice.
Dj Vnyash
