Kenya: Nairobi clothing market razed down in suspected arson attack

06 Octobre 2017

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 6 (Infosplusgabon) -  The main clothing market and the shoe section at the Gikomba market in downtown Nairobi, went up in flames on Friday in what government officials suspect to be an arson attack.

The fire razed nearly all stalls in the clothing market, leaving shocked stall owners to demand compensation for constant losses.

The Kenya National Disaster Preparedness Deputy Director, Pius Masai, the owners of most businesses at the market, lost everything.

“We still do not know the value of goods lost but we urge donations to help the affected businesses to come to their feet,” Masai said.

“They need to restructure and plan the market to ensure that they have access roads, said Masai.

"We believe the County Government has the capacity to improve access,” Masai told reporters at the market where he led a salvage operation.

Masai said a new national disaster law was required to deal with the challenges of planning.

Kenyan Planning and Devolution Ministry Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri, said an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway.

The Cabinet Secretary said there were crucial leads pointing to possible arson attacks.

But stall owners showed little patience with the government’s claims that it was investigating and would get to the full details of how the fire started and who started it.

“The fire incidences in Gikomba market has been consistent. It is time for a proper fire planning to match the security arrangements which are now in place,” said George Otieno, a stall owner at the market.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OIP/GABON 2017

© Copyright Infosplusgabon