Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson Sunday, June 11, visited Toi Market moments after a fire gutted down the establishment destroying property worth millions of Shillings.
Addressing traders at the market, Sakaja promised to assist with the rebuilding of improved stores through the donation of materials necessary for the reconstruction.
The governor assured the traders that the county government will, in the course of the week, undertake a technical review of the extent of damage and begin the process of rebuilding it.
"Once the assessment is complete, the county government is going to rebuild the market with more space for emergency vehicles to access the area in cases of emergency," He assured.
He also promised to donate his own money that will be used to buy and distribute iron sheets as well as food in order to support individuals affected by the fire.
The Nairobi County Governor noted that some 2,500 traders were affected by the unforeseen fire tragedy that took place on Saturday, June 10.
“These traders have been eking a living and are able to feed their families by doing small businesses at Toi Market. In the meantime, we have organised food and material support," the governor added.
The county boss added that the county government was in the process of decentralising fire services noting that the city was in the process of purchasing more fire engine trucks.
He, therefore, tasked the Planning Department to map out and survey the informal settlements with the aim of providing access routes in case of fire outbreaks.
At the same time, Sakaja stated that he had invited experts to conduct an investigation into the fire disasters in the City in order to provide longtime solutions that will prevent similar incidents in the future.
"I want to assure you that my administration will investigate the incident to ascertain the cause and come up with long-term solutions," Sakaja stated.
Past Fire Outbreaks
On June 28, 2018, a fire broke out at Gikomba market in Nairobi, killing at least 1 person and injuring 7 more. The blaze, which was believed to have started in a timber yard, quickly spread through the market, destroying goods worth millions of shillings.
On March 15, 2017, another fire broke out at Kariokor market in Nairobi, destroying property worth millions of shillings. The fire began in a food kiosk, and quickly spread through the market, gutting several stalls.
The fires, which occur repeatedly, have caused widespread damage and loss of life highlighting the need for better fire safety measures in the city.
The informal nature of many markets in Nairobi makes them particularly vulnerable to fires, as they are often made of flammable materials and lack proper fire safety measures.
Nairobi County Government has taken some steps to address the problem of market fires, such as enacting stricter fire safety regulations and providing fire safety training to market traders.
