Devastation at Toi Market as Fire Burns Down Over 250 Stalls in Kibra

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Hundreds of traders at Toi Market in Kibra woke up to devastation on Monday morning after a fire tore through the bustling marketplace, destroying stalls and leaving many small business owners counting heavy losses. The blaze, believed to have been triggered by an electrical fault, reduced goods worth thousands of shillings to ashes.

Highlights

A fire broke out at Toi Market early Monday morning, destroying around 250 stalls.
Authorities estimate that nearly 600 traders were affected by the blaze.
Traders suspect an electrical fault sparked the fire near Toi Primary School.
Nairobi County firefighters responded to contain the flames.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Main Story

Early Morning Fire Sparks Panic

A major fire erupted early Monday morning at Toi Market in Kibra, leaving widespread destruction in one of Nairobi’s busiest trading hubs.

The blaze reportedly started at around 7:00 a.m., with traders claiming it began near Toi Primary School before spreading rapidly across nearby stalls.

Witnesses believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, though investigations are still ongoing.

Hundreds of Businesses Destroyed

According to a police report from the Nairobi West sub-region, the inferno destroyed approximately 250 stalls. Everything inside the affected stalls, including clothing, household goods and other merchandise, was completely burnt.

Authorities estimate that close to 600 traders operating within the market have been impacted by the disaster.

Traders Left Counting Losses

For many traders, the fire has wiped out their only source of income.

One trader, George, said he had not even managed to reach his stall because the area remained inaccessible due to the destruction.

He revealed that goods worth nearly half a million shillings had been lost in the fire and appealed to the government for support.

Another trader, Elizabeth Atieno, said she had recently taken a loan of KSh20,000 to stock her business, only to watch everything go up in flames.

She expressed concern about how she would recover from the loss and called for assistance from authorities to help affected traders rebuild their livelihoods.

Firefighters Contain the Blaze

Firefighters from the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported during the incident.

However, the destruction has once again raised concerns about fire safety in crowded informal markets across Nairobi, where traders often operate in tightly packed stalls.

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