Gikomba traders question Governor Sakaja's 'premonition' as fires continue to cause damage

On November 21, Monica Kabee, a second-hand clothes dealer in Gikomba market received the bales that she had ordered from the UK. But just three days later, she received a disturbing call from a colleague informing her that her stall was on fire. She lost everything.

"It is a big loss but it is more painful since every year we lose millions through the fires in the market. Last year November, the fire gutted down our stock in the same place," she said.

Philomena Muteti, another trader, lost five bales of clothes worth Sh100,000. The traders said the fire started around 4 am and spread quickly, gutting stores filled with stock.

The interesting bit is that the latest fire incident happened about a month after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja made reference to unending fire outbreaks in the city market.

In his speech, the Governor promised to solve the problem, including the construction of a fire station around the market. And while the cases of fires in Gikomba are not new, traders who spoke to The Nairobian are now wondering whether Sakaja was just making a casual declaration, or whether he had inside information about a looming fire.

While making his maiden speech in the Assembly in October, Sakaja admitted that one of the major causes of the Gikomba fires is land speculators and grabbers who intend to push out the traders. The Governor said the land on which Gikomba sits belongs to the county and the process to acquire its title deed has begun.

Traders also suspect that while some infernos are caused by arson, others are caused by illegal power connections in the city market.

"The County should enhance security around the market because we suspect someone could be eyeing to grab the land," said Albert Kimathi, a trader.