Business owners in Rongo town, Migori County, are counting losses after a night fire razed 18 shops on Friday.
The fire, whose cause remains unclear, erupted in the main shopping centre, reducing several shops to ashes and leaving traders counting losses.
Videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed business owners struggling to put out the fire and salvage some goods at night; however, the fire managed to destroy a significant portion of the goods in the shops.
According to witness accounts, this is not the first time a fire has broken out in the area, with their biggest challenge being access to firefighters and fire engines.
"This is not the first time we have been affected by a fire in the area. Barely two weeks ago, some houses were burnt down in this area due to a faulty electrical connection. The main challenge we are facing is that there are no fire trucks around here, and when called, the firefighters take ages to respond," one of the witnesses told local media.
The witnesses criticised the firefighters for their delayed response, stating that they arrived hours after locals had already extinguished the fire themselves.
In response, area leaders extended their sympathies to the affected business owners and praised their efforts to put out the fire. The leader pledged to advocate for the county government to acquire at least one fire truck for each sub-county, ensuring better emergency response capabilities.
"I will try my level best to ensure we procure at least one firetruck for every sub-county to help in such situations," the leader pledged.
The devastating event has sparked conversations about the need for improved fire safety measures in Rongo Town and Migori County.
Speaking on the incident, Dorothy Otieno, wife of former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, sympathised with the shop owners and called for better preparedness and stricter enforcement of safety protocols.
"As we wait for an elaborate report on the cause of the fire from relevant investigative authorities, I want to ask us to embrace stronger safety regulations as a county and municipality in order to prevent such disasters in the future," Otieno wrote.
Meanwhile, area leaders have vowed to support recovery efforts, ensuring that affected businesses receive the necessary assistance.
Elsewhere, a similar fire incident occurred in Makina, Kibera, on Saturday morning. According to the Red Cross, the fire, which affected approximately 40 households, left 20 people injured. The fire was contained by the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade with support from community members.
