Fire guts 15 shops in Bomet

The timber shops housed stores and retail shops. [Standard]

 

Traders in Sotik constituency, Bomet county, are counting losses after fire gutted down 15 shops on Friday night.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electric fault at 1am.

Nothing was salvaged during the fire which lasted more than three hours.

The timber shops housed stores and retail shops.

County disaster officer Stanley Mutai said they arrived at the scene when the fire had covered nearly all the shops.

Sotik Sub-County commander Francis Nganga said there were no casualties.

Nganga said officers, the public and the county disaster team helped in putting out the fire.

“We have started investigations into the incident. So far it is only suspected to have been caused by an electric fault,” said Nganga. 

He said the value of the property lost is yet to be established.

Affected traders appealed for the county emergency fund to enable them resume business.

“I have lost everything and I wish the county can come to our aid," said Robert Rob, who lost a shop.

Another trader whose timber store was burnt said he had a stock of more than Sh1 million and did not salvage anything.