Sakaja Forced To Flee Toi Market After Residents Pelt Him With Stones [VIDEO]

The early morning fire left traders counting their losses. It broke out at around 4 am and destroyed all the business structures

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
Aug 3, 2024 - 14:20 Updated: Aug 3, 2024 - 15:24
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Sakaja Forced To Flee Toi Market After Residents Pelt Him With Stones [VIDEO]
Commotion as Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja paid a visit to Toi Market on August 3, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja was on Saturday, August 3 forced to flee the scene of Toi Market in Kibra after a fire ravaged the market and left four people dead.

In a video seen by Viral Tea, commotion ensued around the scene as residents gathered within the county boss' vicinity.

However, chaos ensued as stones were hurled towards the governor who had to be shielded by his bodyguards who led him away from the area.

Here is the video:

According to sources who spoke to Viral Tea, the residents alleged that Sakaja had failed to live up to his promise of helping them following last year's inferno at the market.

Governor Sakaja was whisked away to his car before being driven away. During the incident, the residents accused him of managing the county poorly.

The early morning fire left traders counting their losses. It broke out at around 4 am and destroyed all the business structures, with residents waking up to charred remains of the market, a matter which left the local community in shock and mourning.

It is unclear how the four victims found themselves at the centre of the incident, but reports indicated that they had gone to rescue their properties which were being consumed by the deadly fire. A child was among the four who died.

Woodley area chief Nehemiah Amwocha said the fire could have emanated from one of the kiosks before spreading fast to other structures. Toi Market chair Kenneth Jumba noted that he suspected the fire was started intentionally.

This is not the first time Toi Market has been engulfed in flames. On June 11, 2023, over 2,500 traders at the market counted losses after their stalls were destroyed by a fire that broke out in the early morning hours. The inferno broke out at around 2 am and ran until 6 am, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

Toi Market is rarely known for fire outbreaks, with the 2023 incident being the first since a series of similar incidents in 2022. This latest disaster points to a distressing pattern of recurrent fires that have plagued the market, raising critical questions about the safety and resilience of Nairobi's informal trading hubs.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna confirmed the tragic loss of four lives, expressing his condolences and pledging support for the affected families.

"We had another fire at Toi Market this morning. I have spoken to area MP Peter Orero who confirms four people tragically lost their lives.

"My deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Toi family. As the leadership in Nairobi, we stand with you and will do our best not only to help restore your businesses but to make sure we put an end to these incessant fires in our markets," he vowed.

A fire that ravaged Toi Market on August 3, 2024. /KARALI PICS

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