Homa Bay traders cry foul over rise in fires

Homa Bay residents surround former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga to assess property that was damaged by fire in business premises in Homa Bay town. [James Omoro, Standard]

Traders want the county security personnel to unearth the cause behind the rampant fires which have destroyed their properties in recent days.

Traders in Homa Bay and Ndhiwa towns have lost property worth millions of shillings in various fire incidents which burnt down their business premises in the recent past.

Former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga called for speedy investigations to determine the cause of the fires so as to curb them.

Massive loss

“Investing in business is not easy and it is unfortunate that residents continue losing property in this manner,” the former legislator said when he visited traders who had lost property in the recent town fire.

The latest incident occurred in Ndhiwa town on Christmas eve, and six days earlier, there was a fire in Homa Bay town which had experienced numerous fire incidents just before the festive season.

Magwanga said the fires will discourage residents from investing.

He challenged the Homa Bay County government to put in place proper fire fighting equipment to cushion traders from massive losses.

“Let the county government put proper measures of disaster preparedness,” he said.

“The county currently has fire fighting engines but it needs to make them more accessible,” he added.

The former MP also challenged all eight MPs and Woman rep in the county to set aside funds from the emergency kitty in the NGCDF and NGAAF to help address emergencies in Homa Bay town.

“Homa Bay is a cosmopolitan town which is occupied by people from all the eight constituencies in the county. Let the legislators also contribute funds to mitigate the losses traders suffer,” Magwanga added.