MACHAKOS, Kenya, Jun, 7 – Traders in Jua Kali area, Machakos county are counting losses after their property worth millions of shillings were destroyed by an inferno Monday afternoon.
According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out at around 2 pm before quickly spreading to furniture shops and other stores in the area.
The cause of the fire was not immediately established.
Traders were quickly forced to attempt to put out the fire before the fire trucks arrived at the scene. Their attempts however proved futile as it raged on with intensity.
Residents accused the firefighters of arriving late, nearly three hours after the incident, despite their station being just 500 meters from the scene. When they arrived, they are said t ohave had inadequate water to put out the fire.
“I lost property worth Sh 4 million, I do not know what to do now or even where to pick up the pieces,” said Victor Mutua, a trader.
“It’s a pity to see such traders who work day and night to put food on the table for their families being subjected to this kind of suffering by a government that collects millions of shillings from them in form of tax,” said Machakos county women representative Joyce Kamene.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.
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