Inferno After Inferno: How Many More Fires Before Gikomba Gets a Permanent Solution?

Traders salvage belongings from the debris following a devastating fire at Gikomba Market, as calls grow for lasting safety reforms and improved infrastructure to prevent recurring disasters.

Article by: Babz Abdul-Raheem.
Date: June 22,2026.

For decades, Gikomba Market has been the heartbeat of informal trade in Nairobi, supporting thousands of families and contributing significantly to the country's economy. Yet, alongside its reputation as East Africa's largest open-air market, Gikomba has also become synonymous with another recurring tragedy devastating fires that leave destruction, despair, and unanswered questions in their wake.

The latest fire, which tore through sections of the market, has once again left traders counting massive losses while families mourn loved ones lost in the chaos. The incident has reignited public debate over why major market fires continue to occur despite repeated promises by successive administrations to modernize and secure the trading hub.

For many traders, the story is painfully familiar. They invest years building businesses only to watch their livelihoods disappear in a matter of hours. Some have survived multiple fires, rebuilding each time with hope that authorities would finally implement lasting solutions. Yet every new tragedy seems to expose the same weaknesses that have persisted for years.

Experts point to a combination of factors behind the recurring disasters. Illegal electricity connections, congested pathways, poor fire-fighting infrastructure, and inadequate emergency access routes have long been cited as major risks. During emergencies, firefighters often struggle to access affected areas due to the market's crowded layout, allowing small fires to spread rapidly into large-scale disasters.

The repeated destruction has also fueled suspicion among traders, some of whom question whether all the fires are accidental. While investigations are often launched after each incident, few have resulted in publicly known prosecutions or comprehensive explanations. This has created a trust deficit between traders and authorities, with many believing that critical questions remain unanswered.

Successive governments have announced plans to modernize Gikomba through improved infrastructure, proper electrical installations, fire stations, and better market planning. However, implementation has often been slow, inconsistent, or incomplete. As a result, traders continue operating in conditions that many safety experts consider highly vulnerable.

Beyond the immediate losses, the fires carry wider economic consequences. Thousands of traders lose stock worth millions of shillings, employees lose jobs, and families lose their primary source of income. The ripple effects extend to suppliers, transporters, and consumers who depend on the market's daily operations.

The latest tragedy should serve as more than another headline. It should be a turning point. Kenya cannot continue treating market fires as routine disasters that attract sympathy today and are forgotten tomorrow. The recurring destruction at Gikomba highlights a deeper failure of planning, enforcement, and accountability.

As traders begin rebuilding once again, the question remains: How many more fires must occur before Gikomba receives the permanent solution it has been promised for years? Until decisive action is taken, the market risks remaining trapped in a cycle of loss, recovery, and renewed tragedy.