Govt says initial reports show Gikomba fire arson

The government has indicated that the fire that broke out at Gikomba market early Friday morning was not an accident but could have been arson.

In a statement issued Friday morning, Devolution Cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said: “from the initial reports we are getting, we are saddened that they appear to point at foul play”.

CS Kiunjuri said the government has set in motion investigations to establish the cause of the fire.

“Let it be known that stern action will be taken on the culprits should the investigations establish foul play,” the CS added.

A fierce inferno broke out on Friday at around 3 am and lasted for over five hours,  razing down millions worth of property, with traders helplessly watching their investments go down in ashes.

At some point, a commotion ensued after rowdy youth moved in to loot clothing and foodstuff in the guise of salvaging property from the fire.

Meanwhile, Kiunjuri has assured traders that the national government, in collaboration with City Hall, will explore ways of ensuring businesses at the open-air market are protected from such disasters, including setting up permanent structures from where the operators can sell their goods.

Traders at the Gikomba market have severally suffered the same costly fate of their property burning down, with the most recent being last month.