A massive fire has broken out at Machakos Market, rapidly spreading through sections of the busy trading center and destroying businesses, stalls, and valuable merchandise.
In the early morning hours of July 5, the fire broke out at the Machakos Mitumba Market and spread through sections of the trading center, destroying businesses, stalls, and merchandise.
The Machakos County Fire and Rescue Department is reported to have responded swiftly and is currently battling the blaze to contain the flames and prevent further destruction, with no injuries reported so far.
Preliminary reports from the emergency responders indicate that the blaze engulfed large parts of the market, leaving traders counting significant losses as property and stock were reduced to ashes.
However, the cause of the fire has not yet been established, and authorities are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Machakos Market Traders Appeal For Support
Following the fire, traders whose livelihood depended on the Machakos Market sales have expressed the extent of the loss and the impact the fire outbreak will have on their lives in the future.
“This is the only business which I depend on to raise my family, pay school fees and meet other expenses, including house rent. The fire has reduced me to zero. I call for support from well-wishers to enable me to continue with my business,” a trader at the Machakos Mitumba Market stated during an interview with the Star Media.
Further, a single mother who has operated in the market for nearly a decade and depended entirely on the business to provide for her children explained that the efforts of the first emergency responders and fellow traders failed to salvage the goods in the market.
Additionally, other traders noted that they had outstanding bank loans and, with the fire consuming their stocks, were unsure how they would continue to service the.
Some traders emphasized that, with their source of income destroyed, they faced an uncertain future and appealed for government assistance and support from well-wishers to help them rebuild their businesses.
According to the witnesses, most of the mabati structures were destroyed, and traders and residents who responded to the scene were unable to save much of the property due to the intensity of the blaze.
Wavinya Ndeti on the Machakos Market Fire
Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti has called for the immediate investigation into the cause of the mitumba market fire, seeking that the findings be shared with the public as soon as possible.
Additionally, the governor has expressed her support for all traders affected by the fire and commended the emergency responders, including the Machakos County Fire and Rescue Team, for their response to the incident.
Further, the governor emphasized that her administration would stand with the affected traders as the officials assess the damages caused by the fire and also support the recovery effort.
According to Wavinya Ndeti, Machakos County will remain committed to building modern and safe trade centers for the residents of Machakos.
Earlier Market Infernos in Machakos and Other Counties
Machakos County reported a major market fire in June 2022 at Grogon Market in Machakos Town.
According to the Machakos County Government officials, the fire destroyed businesses and left more than 500 traders counting losses worth millions of shillings.
The incident raised concerns about market safety and emergency preparedness after years of similar disasters affecting traders.
Many business owners affected by that fire said they lost their entire livelihoods within hours, indicating the vulnerability of traders operating in crowded market spaces.
On the other hand, Gikomba Market in Nairobi has, over the years, experienced fire outbreaks.
Recently, a fire broke out at the Gikomba Market, claiming the lives of two people on July 21, 2026, according to the Nairobi County Government.
“Several members of the public sustained minor injuries during the incident. They received prompt, on-scene medical stabilization and treatment from Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) ambulance personnel working in close coordination with the Kenya Red Cross,” said Bramwell Simiyu, the Nairobi Disaster and Risk Management and Coordination Chief Officer.
The recurring fire incidents in the Gikomba market have fueled calls for stronger fire safety measures, improved market infrastructure, and enhanced emergency response systems.
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