Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Oliver Mathenge
8 September 2010
Nairobi — A fire broke out at Nairobi's Gikomba Market on Wednesday afternoon destroying property worth millions of shillings.
It was not clear what started the blaze. The fire that raged for three-hours was fought by city council firefighters but their work was hampered by inaccessibility in the overcrowded market.
Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu decried the difficulty of fighting disasters in some parts of the city. He added that despite the speedy response by firefighters they were still faced with difficulties of accessing water. The light industry area houses more than 200 shops that include workshops, hardware stores, furniture and clothes shops.
An estimated 50,000 people draw their source of income from the market which deals with second hand goods. Witnesses said the fire may have been caused by an electric fault before bringing down electric poles that helped to fuel the flames. Police had a hard time controlling the crowd that had gathered at the scene.
Last year, another fire destroyed goods worth thousands of shillings when the stores caught fire in the night.
