Another fire at Gikomba market as traders call for probe

Infernos at Gikomba market have become a norm in every year’s calendar destroying goods worth millions of shillings as fires ravage business structures in the mitumba market.

For the fourth time this year, the open-air market has been struck by its most common plague leaving traders counting losses.

The huge fire that started at the wee hours of today morning, ravaged stalls in the market although the exact damage or cause of the fire is yet be determined.

The Nairobi Fire Brigade arrived at the scene but the fire had spread due to the wooden stands used by the traders as shelters and stands to support their commodities.

This comes after the Nairobi Metropolitan Services was granted permission by the court to evict a section of the Mitumba sellers to pave way for the expansion of Pumwani Majengo Health centre.

It is believed that the affected shops were owned by the 174 trades facing eviction by NMS.

The traders will, as a result, be forced to move out of the Gacucu area of the market to pave way for the expansion of the neighbouring Pumwani Majengo Health facility.

In granting the orders, the court stated that the traders’ request for an order to stop the eviction and demolition of business structures would hinder the public good.

Justice Oguttu Mboya ruled that giving the directive would prevent the realization of the right to universal health care.

In his verdict, Justice Oguttu further noted that although the traders have a right to earn a living, they do not have any entitlement to the public land in question.

“Whereas I affirm their rights to earn a living and livelihood, it must however be noted that the petitioner’s rights to do so are not absolute.

“In this regard, it suffices to observe that the right to earn a living and carry on business is one which is subject to the Limitation under Article 25 of the Constitution,” Justice Mboya ruled.