Tragic fire at Toi Market claims four lives, including a child

The victims were attempting to save their belongings when they were overpowered by the flames.

In Summary

The blaze has affected at least 2,000 traders, leaving many counting their losses.

Bodies burnt at Toi Market
Bodies burnt at Toi Market
Image: FELIX ASOHA

Four people have been reported to be burnt beyond recognition following a fire that razed down Toi market.

A child is among the four. The victims were attempting to save their belongings when they were overpowered by the flames.

The blaze has affected at least 2,000 traders, leaving many counting their losses.

Toi Market chair Kenneth Jumba said he suspects the fire was started intentionally.

"We have never received the report on what caused the fire that we experienced last year. We are used to them," Kenneth said.

This is not the first time the market is going down in flames. The market has become prone to frequent fires.

On June 2023, traders woke up to their property worth millions of shillings razed down.

In November 2021, a fire razed down a section of stalls at the market, leaving traders counting heavy losses.

In 2019, two fires broke in the market in a span of four years after the 2014 fire outbreak that destroyed property of unknown value.

Lack of access roads has also been faulted for the slow response of fire services.

In 2018, the market experienced three fire cases, which led the then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to call for investigations into the incident and for culprits to be brought to book.

Bodies burnt at Toi Market
Bodies burnt at Toi Market
Image: FELIX ASOHA
WATCH: The latest videos from the Star