Late-Night Blaze Destroys Kisii Market, Dozens of Traders Lose Livelihoods
KISII — A fast-moving fire gutted the Kisii Municipal Market overnight, leaving traders devastated and counting heavy losses. The blaze erupted late Friday and quickly consumed stalls packed tightly inside the marketplace, fueled by timber walls and iron sheet roofs.
Most of the market had already been engulfed by the time the Kisii County Disaster Management team arrived. The market sits just a few meters from the county offices, intensifying criticism of the slow emergency response.
“The flames spread so fast we couldn’t save anything,” said one trader who watched helplessly as his entire stock burned. “It took too long for help to come.”
Witnesses said the fire broke out around midnight. Without firefighting equipment on-site, and with no initial response from county authorities, traders tried to douse the flames using buckets of water, but the fire overwhelmed the effort.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet released a formal statement on what triggered the incident.
This disaster follows a recent legal dispute involving the market’s land ownership, which had caused tension among traders and county officials. Though there is no confirmed link between the court case and the fire, some traders expressed concern about timing.
No injuries were reported, but the financial toll is significant. Many traders had stocked up for end-of-month sales. None had insurance coverage for fire damage.
Kisii County officials have promised to investigate the cause and explore ways to support affected traders. As of Saturday morning, cleanup had begun, but the economic shock remains deep for the small business owners who relied on the market for their income.
“I’ve lost everything,” said a vendor of household items. “This stall was my only source of income.”
The county government has yet to confirm whether it will offer compensation or facilitate relocation for the affected vendors. Traders now face the task of rebuilding from scratch with little assurance of support.
