This should never have happened- Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan says after Gikomba tragedy that left teenagers dead

Barely days after a massive fire ravaged a large section of Gikomba Market, a fresh tragedy has deepened the pain of traders.

What began as a search for scrap metal ended in disaster after teenagers reportedly climbed onto and dismantled parts of a fire-weakened building in search of valuable metal.

Witnesses say some were hitting the rooftop while others pulled out metal frames and reusable materials before the unstable structure suddenly gave way.

The collapse left two teenagers dead and several others injured, raising concerns over the growing scavenging culture around disaster sites and the lack of security measures to keep people away from unsafe structures.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan expressed concern over the death of two teenage boys. Speaking after rescue and recovery operations concluded, Yusuf described the deaths as deeply painful.

He said the tragedy reflected not only failures in safety and emergency response but also broader social challenges affecting children and young people within the community.

He noted that the victims were school-going boys aged between 15 and 16 years, noting that the incident should force society to confront difficult questions about why children are increasingly finding themselves in unsafe environments in search of survival.

“It is sad because these were children in junior secondary school. One of those injured is actually the brother of one of the deceased. This clearly shows that our social fabric is beginning to unravel and that many young people are spending more time outside in risky spaces instead of being protected,” he said.

Yusuf said hundreds of young people have increasingly been drawn into scavenging in Gikomba and other informal spaces in search of scrap metal and other materials to sell for income, exposing them to danger.

The MP faulted the county government for poor oversight and failure to strengthen emergency preparedness despite repeated disasters in Gikomba over the years.

He questioned why the Gikomba Fire Station, which was constructed to improve emergency response and reduce losses from market fires, remains non-operational nearly two years after completion.

“We have always wanted a fire station here because of the repeated fire outbreaks in this neighbourhood and the suffering and losses traders have endured over the years. We were very excited when construction started, but it has now been complete for nearly two years, and it remains empty,” he said.

Yusuf revealed that previous commitments had been made to ensure the station becomes operational, including support toward equipping it.

He said that during a previous visit to Gikomba, directions had been issued for the facility to be equipped and opened to serve residents and traders.

According to him, the recent deadly fire and subsequent collapse demonstrated how dangerous delays in emergency preparedness can become.

“I am saddened that this has not happened because the terrible fire that occurred here could have been controlled and mitigated if we had a functioning fire station, firefighters, and fire engines right next door,” he said.

He further pointed to delayed emergency response, inadequate firefighting resources, and insufficient water supply as major factors that worsened the destruction.

“One of the major shortcomings was that fire engines arrived late, they ran out of water, and they were unable to contain the fire in time before it spread deeper into the market and caused extensive losses,” he added.

MP Yusuf proposed several long-term interventions to prevent similar disasters and improve safety in Gikomba. Among the solutions he outlined was the immediate operationalisation and equipping of the Gikomba Fire Station to ensure rapid emergency response during future incidents.

He also called for the installation of sufficient water infrastructure across the market, including reliable water points and functioning fire hydrants to support firefighting operations.

The MP further proposed the installation of additional CCTV surveillance cameras across the market to monitor movement, improve investigations, and enhance control during emergencies.

Security, he said, must also be strengthened through increased police deployment and continuous patrols because Gikomba remains an open-air market with no clear perimeter control.

“This market has no walls and no controlled entry points, so without proper security, you cannot adequately protect business people or control movement,” he said.

Yusuf also called for stronger market management systems, better planning, and restriction of access to damaged structures to prevent the public, especially children, from entering unsafe areas.

“Gikomba supports the livelihoods of millions of people directly and indirectly. Traders pay taxes, pay rent, educate children, and contribute significantly to economic growth. The responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens,” he said.

He added that traders are now demanding answers and expect both county and national governments to move beyond promises and implement lasting safety measures to prevent further loss of life.

Peter Lomidi, a security guard who works around Gikomba Market, says what happened did not come without warning.

According to him, long before the building collapse, young people had already turned the site into a scavenging ground, entering day and night in search of scrap metal they could sell for quick cash.

He recalls that after the Sunday fire, no security measures were put in place to restrict access to the damaged structure, leaving the area open and attracting crowds.

“From the morning after the fire, people started going in. Young men were hitting parts of the building with hammers, removing metal frames, pulling out nails and collecting anything they thought had value,” he said.

He remembers motorcycles arriving to carry recovered materials while groups of youths continued dismantling parts of the damaged structure.

“The scavenging did not begin after the collapse. It had started earlier. People knew there was scrap inside, and they came looking for it,” he said.

According to him, the area gradually became a dangerous zone, with children and teenagers among those entering the unstable site.

“Some of these children were very young. You would find them there late at night. Parents did not always know where they were,” he said.

Lomidi believes poverty and lack of opportunities pushed many into taking the risk.

“For some, scrap metal means money for food or rent. They see metal and think about survival, not danger,” he added.

But he says the situation exposed a broader failure beyond individuals. “This is not just about children. It is a failure for all of us: families, the community, and the authorities. We saw what was happening, but the place remained open.”

He also questioned those buying the scrap metal, saying demand continues to encourage risky scavenging. “If there were no market for the metal, fewer young people would go into such dangerous places.”

He added that stronger action should have been taken immediately after the fire. “That area should have been secured. People should not have been allowed to enter and remove materials from a damaged structure. If precautions are taken early enough, lives can be saved,” he said.

For Kennedy Omondi, a shoe trader at Gikomba Market, the demand for quality scrap metal became a powerful pull for many young people living in nearby informal settlements.

He says that after news spread about accessible materials around the site, both men and women began arriving to collect metal, plastic, and anything else that could be sold for cash.

According to Omondi, many of those who came were from neighbouring areas and informal settlements, hoping to earn a living through scavenging.

“The demand for scrap brought many people here. Some came from nearby estates and slum areas because they believed there was money to be made,” he said.

According to him, many residents viewed the damaged site as an opportunity to earn quick income at a time of economic hardship.

“Many feel that when you stop them from going in, you are stopping their livelihood because this is how they survive and put food on the table,” Omondi said.

He now says the incident should serve as a lesson on the need to secure dangerous areas immediately and provide safer economic opportunities for young people.

“If such places are left open, people will always come because they are looking for income. Security should be strengthened so lives are protected,” he said.