Gikomba Market, one of East Africa’s largest open-air markets, has faced another devastating fire. The blaze erupted in the early hours of April 1, 2025, destroying over 500 stalls in the ‘Kwa Mbao’ section and extending to a nearby bus station. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the financial losses are immense for the traders.
This isn’t the first fire to hit Gikomba. Fires have become a recurring tragedy, with major incidents reported in 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and as recently as 2024. The June 2018 fire remains one of the most tragic, claiming 15 lives and injuring over 60 people. Traders and residents have raised concerns over the causes of these blazes. Some suspect electrical faults, while others point to land cartels who might be using fires to displace traders for commercial gain. There’s also speculation that struggling traders could start fires to claim insurance payouts. However, definitive answers have yet to be provided.
The repeated fires have left thousands of traders financially devastated. Families reliant on the market’s bustling trade face the painful task of rebuilding their livelihoods each time. Gikomba, known for affordable goods and bustling activity, is a vital economic hub. These fires not only disrupt the market’s operations but also ripple across the economy.
Authorities have promised action to address the issue, yet tangible progress remains elusive. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja vowed in 2022 to secure Gikomba’s status as public land and protect it from land grabbers. However, traders still face the same recurring disasters. The Nairobi County Government had also allocated KES 60 million for a fire station within the market, but the project remains incomplete.
Despite these challenges, Gikomba’s traders remain resilient. They continue to call for comprehensive investigations into the fires, stronger safety measures, and a committed effort from the government to secure the market’s future. Whether their pleas will be answered this time remains to be seen, as the ashes of yet another tragedy settle over Gikomba.
