Sakaja Donates Ksh2.4M To Gikomba Traders After Fire Outbreak

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja visited traders at the famous Gikomba Market in Nairobi, days after a fire broke out at stalls in the market.

During his visit on Thursday, December 29, Sakaja offered to support the traders with donations worth Ksh2.4 million.

He also consoled the family of Alfred Mugo Wahome who died as a result of injuries caused by the fire and supported his family with a Ksh200,000 donation.

He also appraised the traders with steps the county government was undertaking to prevent future fires from consuming vast tracts of property in the market valued at millions of shillings.

Scene after a fire razed down Gikomba Market on December 27, 2022 /JOHNSON SAKAJA

"With Gikomba traders earlier today when I delivered support worth Ksh2.4 million as well as Ksh200,000 to the family of Alfred Mugo Wahome who unfortunately succumbed after an inferno at Gikomba.

"Updated them on the progress we’ve made on the fire station whose construction will commence soon as well as on the processing of the public title deed for Gikomba which we’re expediting with the NLC," Sakaja stated in part.

The governor delivered the donations during a tour of the affected area in the company of Starehe Member of Parliament Amos Mwago and other leaders. Among the materials donated were iron sheets which Sakaja stated would help to reinstate business stalls for the affected traders. 

Sakaja noted that the construction of the fire station as well as the availability of a public title deed to the market will help deter suspected arsonists from invading the market and razing it down in the future.

"This will discourage opportunistic arsonists. Poleni sana; this will be a thing of the past. Joined by Starehe MP Hon Mwago and the area MCA “Mrefu”. Let’s Make Nairobi Work," he added.

Earlier, former Starehe MP Charles Njagua delivered a donation of Ksh1 million to the victims on behalf of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gikomba is one of Kenya's most popular markets where Kenyans go to buy clothing and second-hand goods at affordable prices, with a similar look and feel to what one would get in premium fashion stores located in shopping malls across Nairobi County.

However, it has also been notorious for a number of fire outbreaks that have seen property destroyed and lives lost. The one on Tuesday, December 27 added to the long list of fires at Gikomba that have dominated headlines.

The Gikomba market fires have attracted widespread concern from the government and traders since it forms a major source of livelihood for many people in the surrounding area as well as a source of income to sustain their standards of living.

The repetitive fires that have affected traders since the 2010s have also made it difficult for traders to rebuild their businesses for normal resumption.