- Allan Mwas shared a video capturing the razing of the Gikomba market fire that destroyed his business and that of his colleagues
- The trader painfully noted he lost KSh 2.1 million in the destructive fire that started at 2am, burning traders’ goods to ashes
- Speaking to NGBREAKINGNEWS, the Nairobi man shared how he found out about the sad news, as he spoke about the way forward
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A man from Zimmerman, Nairobi county, has been left counting his losses following a devastating inferno that left many traders in tears.
Source: TikTok
Allan Mwas took to social media to share a heartbreaking video of the fire at Gikomba Market, which destroyed countless businesses.
The 27-year-old was emotional as he showed the scene, with traders helplessly watching as the flames reduced their shops and goods to ashes.
“Hello, guys. This is the situation at Gikomba Market. I have lost goods worth KSh 2.1 million. I am very heartbroken. It is 4:30am, and we have lost our sources of income. But in all things, we say God is good and faithful. May He watch over us and help us because we have nothing else,” he said.
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Allan Mwas receives distressing call
Other traders were also seen recording the painful incident, unable to save their businesses or stock from the raging fire.
Speaking to NGBREAKINGNEWS, Mwas, who has been a bag seller for five years, recalled receiving the devastating news in the early hours of the morning.
“I received a call from a lady who told me she had heard that Gikomba was on fire. She asked me to confirm and make my way to the market. Indeed, I confirmed that it was not a rumour. I immediately ordered a cab, but the driver was not cooperating. I did not waste any time and instead looked for a boda boda rider to take me to my workplace.When I arrived, I was greeted by a massive fire that was consuming my business and those of my colleagues.
No one knew what had happened or how the fire had started. The fire reportedly broke out at around 2am, and by the time people arrived, our businesses had already been reduced to ashes. We could not salvage anything.I was angry, devastated, and shattered. Goods worth millions of shillings had been destroyed. I sell bags, and I had just received new bales for the month. My business, which I had built over five years after starting with a capital of KSh 150,000, was gone,” he said.
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What caused Gikomba Market fire?
Mwas added that the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, although several theories have emerged.
He noted that Gikomba had reportedly been without electricity for three days before the fire, leading many to dismiss claims that an electrical fault was responsible.
“For now, we have no option but to rebuild our lives and businesses from scratch. We have not received any communication from the government regarding possible assistance, so we have to find a way to start again on our own. Many traders lost much more than I did. Some businesses were worth five times more than mine. It is heartbreaking, but we must now focus on how to rebuild our lives,” he added.
Source: Facebook
Johnson Sakaja addresses Gikomba traders after fire
In another story, Johnson Sakaja assured Gikomba traders that their trading spaces would remain secure following the devastating fire.
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The county government launched an enumeration exercise to assess losses and support recovery efforts for affected businesses.
Sakaja also promised that no traders would be displaced as plans to modernise Gikomba Market continue.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
