Two people have died after a fire broke out at Gikomba market in Nairobi, leaving traders counting heavy losses after goods and property worth millions of shillings were destroyed in one of the latest tragedies to hit Kenya’s largest open-air market.
“Tragically, this fire cost lives. It is with profound grief that I confirm two fatalities – one adult male and one adult female. At this hour, the victims are yet to be formally identified. Our emergency teams are working urgently to establish their identities and reach out to their families,” said Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja in a statement.
Authorities said recovery and investigative operations were ongoing as a multi-agency team moved in to establish the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
“On behalf of the people of Nairobi, I extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones. We stand with you in this dark hour,” added Sakaja.
The fire, which broke out in sections of the busy market, spread quickly through stalls and storage areas, reducing merchandise, structures and personal property to ashes. Traders who arrived at the scene after the blaze described devastating losses, with many saying their entire stock had been destroyed.
Gikomba is one of Nairobi’s most important commercial hubs, serving thousands of traders, wholesalers, small business owners and customers daily. The market is especially known for second-hand clothes, shoes, household items, furniture and other fast-moving goods. For many traders, the market is not only a place of business but their main source of livelihood.
By the time firefighters and emergency teams contained the fire, several traders had already lost stock accumulated over months, with some estimating their losses in the hundreds of thousands of shillings. Others said they had taken loans to restock their businesses and now faced an uncertain future.
The deaths have deepened the tragedy for affected families and traders, shifting attention from the commercial losses to the human cost of the disaster. Authorities are now working to identify the victims and trace their families as part of the recovery process.
Nairobi County officials said emergency response teams, security agencies and investigators were still on the ground. The teams are expected to conduct a full assessment of the scene, document losses, support identification of the deceased and determine whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault, negligence, arson or other factors.
The Nairobi county government condemned reported attacks on county staff responding to the tragedy.
“I want to commend the bravery of our firefighters who fought back the flames under extreme pressure. Sadly, four of our gallant crew members were injured in the line of duty. I must also express condemnation of the lawless, unprovoked attacks directed at first responders. A National Youth Service fire engine was stoned and forcibly turned away by rowdy youth, severely disrupting early containment efforts,” governor Sakaja said.
The latest incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety in Gikomba, a market that has suffered repeated fire outbreaks over the years. Traders have often complained about congestion, poor access roads, illegal electrical connections, lack of proper drainage, inadequate fire breaks and delayed emergency response due to the crowded nature of the market.
“I have lost business goods worth over one million shillings. Everything is burnt to ashes. What am I going to do?” posed a trader at the market.
Past fires at the market have left traders demanding long-term solutions, including proper planning, safer electrical connections, permanent trading structures, accessible routes for emergency vehicles and improved security. However, many of these concerns remain unresolved.
As investigations continue, families of the victims are expected to await formal identification and communication from authorities. Traders, meanwhile, are returning to the scene to salvage what remains of their property and begin the difficult process of rebuilding.
For now, the mood at Gikomba remains tense and sorrowful, with two families mourning the loss of loved ones and hundreds of traders facing the reality of starting again after another destructive fire at the heart of Nairobi’s informal economy.
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