Safety gaps at Gikomba Market have once again come under scrutiny following a devastating fire that claimed two lives, destroyed businesses and left hundreds of traders counting massive losses.
The Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) has blamed the tragedy on years of inadequate safety measures and failure by public authorities to act on repeated warnings over fire preparedness at the country’s largest open-air market.
“This tragedy is not an isolated incident. It is the latest manifestation of a longstanding failure by public authorities to adequately protect traders despite repeated warnings, recurring fires, and countless promises of reform”, the Consortium said while calling for a thorough probe into the fire.
MCAK regretted that despite numerous attempts by traders and stakeholders to engage Nairobi County Government on market safety and fire preparedness, little meaningful action has been taken.
“Our efforts to seek intervention on the urgent need for improved emergency response mechanisms at Gikomba have largely gone unanswered. Of even greater concern is the fact that the Gikomba Fire Station, whose construction was completed to improve emergency response within the market, was reportedly not operational at the time of the fire and therefore played no role in containing the disaster”, it said.
The situation, MCAK said, raises serious questions about government priorities and accountability. “Traders deserve an explanation as to why a completed public facility intended to save lives and property remains dormant while livelihoods continue to go up in flames.”
The traders’ body is now demanding accountability from Nairobi County Government, including an explanation for the delayed operationalisation of the fire station and a transparent investigation into the cause of the inferno.
In a statement, MCAK further called on both the national and county governments to provide immediate support to affected traders, modernise market infrastructure, improve fire safety systems and strengthen disaster preparedness measures to prevent future tragedies.
“We therefore call upon Governor Sakaja and Nairobi County Government to explain why the Gikomba Fire Station remains non-operational and to immediately operationalise the facility. We further demand a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the cause of the fire”, the traders demanded.
They described Gikomba as an economic lifeline for thousands of Kenyan families. “This tragedy must serve as a turning point. The lives and livelihoods of Kenyan traders cannot continue to be sacrificed at the altar of government inaction. The people of Gikomba deserve more than promises—they deserve functioning infrastructure, responsive leadership, and the protection of their investments”.
Recurring fires at Gikomba have left traders trapped in a cycle of loss and recovery, with growing calls for a permanent solution to safeguard lives, businesses and livelihoods.
“This tragedy is not an isolated incident. It is the latest manifestation of a longstanding failure by public authorities to adequately protect traders despite repeated warnings, recurring fires, and countless promises of reform”, the association decried.
