Gikomba Market To Be On 24-Hour Surveillance As CCTV Cameras Installed

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6- The expansive Gikomba market, a home to thousands of traders from Kenya and East Africa, is set to be on 24-hour surveillance, as a way to curb the perennial fire incidents.

Already, a contractor has been given 7 days to execute the job after the Thursday night fire that led to massive destruction of property worth millions of shillings.

During a visit to the market, Interior Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho said the cameras are one of the precautionary measures to be put in place in the market.

He revealed that the government intends to construct a perimeter wall and mount flood lights.
 “We will find a lasting solution,” he said. The frequent fire incidents have over the years led to destruction of property and at some point, even killed people.

In June 2018, more than 15 people were burnt to death in Gikomba while 70 others sustained serious injuries.

He said the construction of a modern, safer markets to relocate traders from their current open-air spaces will be expedited.

Phase one of the Sh493 million six-storey building was completed in October 2020 and more than 1,000 stalls are already occupied.

Construction of phase two of the project is underway.

“The President has sent us to offer his sympathies and to reiterate his pledge that he will ensure Gikomba traders have a decent and secure environment to conduct their businesses without these frequent fires. We will not tire from seeking a permanent solution to these fires,” the PS said.

Kibicho who was accompanied by Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director General Lt. Gen. Mohammed Badi, area MP Yusuf Hassan, and Nairobi Regional Commissioner, James Kianda, said the Government will support the affected traders to rebuild their businesses.

A team to assess the exact number of affected traders and the value of property lost has been formed and is expected to table its findings by next week.

The Government will also work closely with the management of the market and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to create and maintain access roads to facilitate faster response of firefighters and other emergency services.

Three boreholes have also been drilled in the area, but Dr. Kibicho said more will be sunk to provide sustainable water supply in the market.

Lt. Gen. Badi said a team of engineers from NMS will next week assess the infrastructure at the market and renovate existing boreholes and water hydrants to boost the firefighting capability.

The cause of the latest fire that started in the early hours of Friday morning in a building storing bales of clothes is yet to be known.

Although firefighters from the military, the National Youth Service and NMS were quick to arrive at the market, their efforts were frustrated by poor access to fire site and lack of water.