EDITORIAL: Long-term solution to market fires overdue
Monday, June 29, 2020 0:01
By EDITORIAL
Gikomba market traders salvage what remained of their stalls that were razed down by a fire at the Market in Nairobi on June 25, 2020.
PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG
The perennial fire outbreaks that have in the past left scores of traders at Nairobi’s Gikomba Market counting massive losses have again made a comeback with government officials now being ordered to probe the cause of last week’s night blaze.
Allegations that land ownership tussles between tenants living in nearby county houses, land grabbers or business rivalry among traders may have fuelled the fires at the open-air market should also be fully addressed.
Last week’s fire came barely a few months after traders lost properties in another fire at the same market.
Despite past promises by the government to rein in the menace, the fires still recur hence the traders would not be faulted if they are sceptical about the fresh probe.
