Over ten traders at Kagio town in Kirinyaga County are counting losses after their business premises were razed Tuesday morning.

According to Peter Mwangi, a resident, he had just parked his vehicle when he saw smoke billowing from a nearby rice mill.

“I called the county fire brigade to help put out the fire which was spreading rapidly,” he said.

Because firefighters had to drive at least 20 km to the location, the county government has being encouraged by the locals to buy more fire engines.

Before spreading to nearby stores, the fire started in the mill. The cause of the fire is yet unknown.

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Susan Wamwirua, the rice mill's proprietor, claimed to have lost possession of items valued at more than Kes 500,000.

“We lost property worth more than 5 million shillings. There were about 200 bags of rice in the mill,” she noted.

Residents, however, suspect that it is a case of arson. “The economic situation is really tough and we wonder why someone would set our premises on fire,” Joseph Wanjohi added.

Ndia sub-county police commander Moses Koskei confirmed the incident that has launched investigations. No one was injured during the incident.