A wave of anguish and anger is sweeping across the towns of Garissa and Kisii after two separate infernos reduced major markets to ashes within hours of each other.
In both counties, hundreds of traders watched helplessly as their livelihoods went up in smoke literally with losses estimated to run into tens of millions of shillings.
In Garissa, the fire broke out late in the night, quickly engulfing stalls in the town’s main market. Witnesses say the blaze spread rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials and the close proximity of structures.
Traders who arrived at the scene early the following morning found their goods, which included food supplies, electronics, and clothing, completely destroyed. Fire engines reportedly took hours to respond, sparking widespread outrage over the county’s lack of emergency preparedness.
Just hours later, Kisii Town experienced a similar tragedy. The bustling Daraja Mbili market, one of the largest in the region, was gutted by a fire whose cause remains unknown. Vendors claim that poor electrical wiring and a lack of fire extinguishers contributed to the intensity of the destruction.
The blaze consumed entire rows of makeshift stalls, leaving many small-scale business owners with nothing but charred remains.
In both towns, affected traders have bitterly criticized the government’s slow and inadequate response. “This is not just a loss of goods; it’s the death of dreams and a blow to families who depend on this market to survive,” lamented one trader in Kisii.
Despite the tragedies, no government official had visited either site within 48 hours of the incidents, compounding the public’s frustration. Civil society organizations have now joined traders in demanding investigations, compensation, and long-overdue investment in fire disaster preparedness.
