BIGGEST MARKET IN NAIROBI BURN DOWN
Kenya’s largest open market in Nairobi burn down
Gikomba market in Nairobi, which is Kenya’s largest open market burnt down again yesterday night 6th February, 2019 around 10 pm. The market which houses over 40,000 traders burnt down in the wee hours when traders had already left the market. This fire have become an annual event as it has happened eight times now in less than five years.
Huge fire breaks out at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Reports that several stalls have been affected by the inferno. County fire engines and emergency at the scene. No casualties reported so far. #GikombaFire pic.twitter.com/yd5F0YXGTD
— KOT NEWS DESK ™ (@KOTNewsDesk) February 6, 2019
This is the latest in a string of fires that have destroyed the popular market in Nairobi. There are no injuries report yet.
GIKOMBA FIRES !
1. March 2012
2. March 2014,
3. October 2014
4. June 2015
5. October 2017
6. June 2018.
7. February 2019They want to grab land and put up shopping complexes like they did with Eastleigh public market.
This FIRES are NEVER accidental#GikombaFire#JKLive
— Amedo Shair (@AmedoShair) February 6, 2019
Last year June, Gikomba Market also burned and destroyed a number of shops. While in other years properties were lost, in this one 15 persons died; some died instantly while others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals.
After the fire incident on 7th October 2017 President Uhuru Kenyatta called for investigations in Gikomba.
However, Kenyans online have raised questions on why the fire keeps on recurring and no solution seems to have been arrived; This fire have caused a lot of damages, loss of lives and property which with time has accumulated to billions in losses.
See some twitter reactions:
Fellow Kenyans, #GikombaFire is an annual event. We're soon going to include it on our calendars.
— Dr. William (@NotRuto) February 7, 2019
Why is this Gikomba fire coming too obvious. I feel sorry for everyone who gets daily bread from there 😥😥 #GikombaFire
— Yvonne (@EvyonK) February 6, 2019
Waah disheartening every time year there is fire.a well calculated move by cartrels.we will hear government giving dead promises without bringing culprit to book #GikombaFire
— gideon (@gideon52924287) February 6, 2019