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Gikomba traders count losses as county, fire threaten livelihoods
Jul 13, 2020
Gikomba traders count losses as county, fire threaten livelihoods
Lewis Njoka and Gerald Ithana
Over the last couple of years, Kenya’s economy has lost several millions in GDP and hundreds of full-time jobs through preventable fires in commercial places, and forced evacuations.
Indeed, each year, there are a number of places that you can always bet with certainty that fire will raze part or most of. Gikomba open air market is one of them.
Late last month, a huge inferno burnt down several structures at the cereals and mitumba section of the popular open-air market resulting in massive losses.
The traders are now counting further losses after the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) demolished their structures yesterday night, with goons taking advantage to steal stored goods.
“We arrived early in the morning as usual to open our businesses but were shocked to find an empty ground. We were not given notice for the demolition.
“They just carried the exercise without our knowledge and used a group of youth who took all our possessions,” said Nicodemus Mwabebe, the vice-chairman, Gikomba Shoe Traders Association.
“I started my business with the help of a loan and now I’ve lost everything. I’m now hopeless. I’m ready to leave Nairobi for my rural home but I don’t even have the fare home,” said Betty Ngina, one of the affected traders.
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