Traders at the popular Gikomba market in Nairobi are counting losses after a fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday, May 2025.
Preliminary reports indicate that the inferno started at around 3 am. Witnesses confirmed that the fire broke out in the footwear section of the market near Lamu Road in Majengo, Pumwani, spreading through several stalls.
However, no injuries or fatalities had been reported by the time of publishing. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Multi-agency teams led by firefighters from the Nairobi City County fire department, alongside local volunteers, worked to contain the inferno, according to Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan.
“A massive fire erupted in the footwear section of Gikomba Market, adjacent to Lamu Road in Majengo in Pumwani at around 3 am. The county fire engine has arrived, and firefighters and local volunteers are battling to squash the inferno,” Yusuf said.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed a huge fire razing down a section of the market from a distance, while others showed some of the stalls completely burnt with firefighters at the scene.
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Gikomba market fires
The Sunday morning blaze is the latest in a string of infernos reported at the popular market, incidents that have led to the destruction of goods worth millions.
Just last month, a fire broke out at around 3:00 am on April 1 in the Kwa Mbao section of the market. The flames gutted the entire area and spread to the nearby bus station.
While the fire was reportedly sparked by suspected faulty electrical wiring, traders have repeatedly alleged that some of the blazes are deliberately set by business rivals attempting to eliminate competition. The market’s congested layout has only heightened its vulnerability to such disasters.
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In the wake of the Kwa Mbao fire, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on April 9 ordered police and other investigative agencies to probe the recurring market fires in hotspots such as Gikomba and Toi markets.
“The government has instructed relevant agencies to investigate the cause of the frequent infernos in markets within Nairobi City County, including Gikomba and Toi market, and to provide comprehensive, long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences,” a statement from the Deputy President’s office read in part.
In August 2024, four people were killed and property of unknown value destroyed following a fire that broke out at Toi market in Kibera.
The four people were reported to have been burnt beyond recognition following the early morning fire that razed down the market.
A child was among the four victims who were attempting to save their belongings when they were overpowered by the flames.
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