In pictures: Aftermath of yet another Gikomba market fire

An early morning fire ravaged a section of the Gikomba market on Tuesday, destroying at least 500 businesses in the ‘Kwa Mbao’ area.

The blaze reportedly broke out around 4 am, leaving traders in despair as their livelihoods were consumed by the flames.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, a trader identified as Mwai shared his distressing account of the event.

He said they received the alarming news of the fire around 4 am and rushed to the scene in an attempt to salvage what they could, but by the time they arrived, the fire had already engulfed everything.

“We received a call at around 4 am that there was a fire. When we arrived at the scene, we couldn’t save anything,” Mwai said. He added that the cause of the fire remains unknown.

“We don’t know what has caused the fire,” he said.

Mwai, who ran a hardware business, estimated his losses at nearly Sh2 million, all of which were destroyed in the inferno. The fire affected a wide range of businesses, including those dealing in furniture, doors, woodwork, hardware, and machinery.

Firefighters from the Nairobi County Government were at the scene, working to control the spread of the flames and ensure the fire did not extend further. However, by the time of reporting, the exact cause of the fire remained undetermined.

Similar fires

The incident follows another devastating fire at Gikomba market on March 1, 2025, which also destroyed a significant portion of the ‘Kwa Mbao’ area near the fire station. As with today’s fire, the cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

Gikomba, Nairobi’s largest open-air market, has been plagued by frequent fires over the years, with traders often left to deal with the devastating consequences.

In June 2018, a deadly fire broke out in the same area, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 60 others.

The blaze in the Kwa Mbao area destroyed both market stalls and nearby residential buildings.

Other Topics To Read

• In PICTURES
• National
• Gikomba fire
• Gikomba Traders
• gikomba market demolition
• gikomba fire station
• gikomba fires
• In pictures: Aftermath of yet another Gikomba market fire
• Headlines

Witnesses reported seeing at least six bodies that were burned beyond recognition, while others succumbed to injuries caused by smoke inhalation as they tried to save their property. The then Nairobi Regional Commissioner Kang’ethe Thuku confirmed that nine bodies remained unaccounted for and had not yet been recovered from the scene.

Emergency responders from St John’s Ambulance reported that at least 70 people, mostly traders, were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital and other city facilities with burns.

“At least 40 casualties were evacuated following the huge fire that gutted part of the residential and market sections of Gikomba,” the ambulance service said in a tweet.

However, the fire, which originated from a timber yard, remained under investigation. The blaze also spread to surrounding residential houses, causing extensive property damage, with at least 15 apartments and numerous shanties affected.

Despite the recurring incidents, the government has struggled to identify the exact cause of the fires, with many traders expressing concerns about potential sabotage.