Wiping the tears of Gikomba Victims using teargas

Naman Moranga, a victim of Gikomba fire during an interview with The Standard on July 5, 2018. [David Njaaga, Standard]

The stinging smell of tear gas hangs over Gikomba. Twelve hours after heavily armed police officers chased away the grieving victims of last Thursday’s fire, the last arsenal hurled by the officers is still assaulting the glands that are all cried out.

When The Sunday Standard visited the wasteland, devastated traders were staring at the rubble of building materials they had bought to reconstruct their sheds after the fire and perhaps piece back their lives.