Four people, including a child, have tragically perished in a fire that devastated Toi Market. The victims were attempting to salvage their belongings when they were overwhelmed by the flames.
The fire has impacted at least 2,000 traders, leaving many grappling with significant losses. Toi Market Chair Kenneth Jumba suspects arson. "We never received a report on the cause of last year's fire. Unfortunately, such incidents have become common," he stated.
This is not the first time Toi Market has been ravaged by fire. The market has become notorious for frequent blazes. In June 2023, traders suffered the loss of property worth millions of shillings in another devastating fire. In November 2021, a section of stalls was destroyed by fire, resulting in heavy losses for traders. Earlier, in 2019, two fires occurred within four years, following a significant fire outbreak in 2014 that caused extensive damage.
The slow response of fire services has been attributed to a lack of access roads. In 2018, the market endured three fires, prompting then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to call for investigations and for those responsible to be held accountable.
