Traders at Toi Market are counting heavy losses after a fire broke out early Monday morning, destroying several stalls and goods worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.
The blaze, which started at around 7:00 a.m., is believed to have been triggered by an electrical fault, according to traders operating in the busy open-air market located in Kibra.
Fire Started Near Toi Primary School
Witnesses said the fire began near Toi Primary School before rapidly spreading to nearby stalls, fuelled by highly flammable materials used in many of the market structures.
Traders at the scene struggled to contain the flames as they watched their businesses go up in smoke.
One trader, identified as George, said he lost goods worth nearly KSh 500,000 in the inferno.
“Today I have lost as a businessman, and I don’t know where to start,” George told reporters.
“I have not even gone to see my stalls because there is nowhere I can pass. I urge the government to help us. I have lost goods worth half a million.”
Small Traders Hit Hard
Another trader, Elizabeth Atieno, said her business was destroyed shortly after she had taken a loan of KSh 20,000 to restock her stall.
She appealed to the government for assistance, saying the loss has left her without a source of livelihood.
“I have incurred a great loss, and now I don’t have anything. As you can see, my friend has been helped, whereas I haven’t gotten anything here, and I pray that the government aids me. The source of the fire is electricity fault,” Atieno said.
Many traders at Toi Market rely on small businesses as their primary source of income, making the destruction particularly devastating for families that depend on daily sales.
Firefighters Respond
Officers from the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out and worked to contain the flames before they could spread further.
Authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported during the incident.
However, several stalls and merchandise were destroyed, leaving traders scrambling to assess the extent of the damage.
Frequent Fires in Informal Markets
Fires have been a recurring problem in many informal markets in Nairobi, often linked to faulty electrical connections, overcrowded stalls, and flammable construction materials.
Traders at Toi Market are now calling on the government to provide financial support and improved safety measures to help them rebuild their businesses and prevent similar disasters in the future.
Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire.
