Several people were injured on Thursday evening after a large structure which hosts traders at Kibuye Market in Kisumu City caved in following a heavy downpour in the area.
The incident, which occurred around 6pm, also left many traders counting huge losses, as the shelter which hosted vendors of tomatoes, clothing, and cereals, caved in on their goods.
Reports suggest that the structure collapsed moments after heavy rains began, with the situation exacerbated by the strong winds which accompanied the downpour.
According to witnesses, many of those who were injured received first aid treatment at the scene.
In a footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, several people could be seen stranded outside the structure as others struggled to remove their belongings from the ramshackle.
The situation disrupted trading activities in one of East Africa's largest open-air markets. The County government has since called for calm even as the local authorities probe the incident.
The incident comes after the market was closed for several years to pave the way for renovation and construction of the shed, which collapsed yesterday.
Traders were recently allowed to resume their activities at the market after being temporarily moved to the Uhuru Business Complex.
However, the County government announced that part of the market was yet to be completed, with renovation works still ongoing in a project funded by the national government through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Meanwhile, the latest incident comes just a day after a strong wind blew off the roofs of classrooms at Professor Ayiecho Obumba Secondary School in Muhoroni, Kisumu County.
The wind, which struck during a downpour witnessed in the area on Wednesday, October 1, caused several large trees to fall, some landing on classrooms and the school library.
Nonetheless, during the incident, no learner was injured, with the school management now calling on the county government to intervene and help in the refurbishment of the destroyed classrooms.
