Gikomba Market Fires Persist
Major Fire Engulfs Nairobi's Gikomba Market Stalls, Renewing Calls for Safety Amid Recurring Blazes
Key Points
Witnesses described panic as stall owners tried to rescue merchandise while thick smoke rose above the market; the fire was reportedly fueled by highly combustible goods stored in the densely packed trading area.
Authorities warned motorists and reported expected traffic disruptions around specific areas and streets, including Landhies Road, Kamukunji, Majengo, and nearby streets.
Online video and on-the-ground accounts indicated flames spread through sections near both the Fish Market and Gorofani areas as traders raced to salvage goods.
Response and containment were described as difficult due to congestion and limited access routes within the market’s tightly occupied spaces.
The broader pattern of Gikomba fires includes detailed past incidents: a September 2000 blaze in the second-hand clothing area that burned for more than eight hours, and a 2018 fire that killed 15 people in the Kwa-Mbao section; the market also experienced multiple major outbreaks since 2010, including as recently as February 2026.
A fast-moving fire tore through Nairobi's Gikomba Market in the early hours of Sunday, June 21, 2026, breaking out around 4 a.m. and quickly consuming stalls in the fish section and the nearby Gorofani area. Kenya Red Cross confirmed zero deaths and zero injuries by mid-morning, but traders were left counting losses estimated at upwards of Ksh 50 million — the second major blaze to hit the market in 2026 alone.
Multi-agency teams — including Nairobi County Fire Services, police, and Red Cross responders — contained the fire by around 9:45 a.m. Thick smoke blanketed Landhies Road and Kamukunji, snarling traffic across Nairobi's Eastlands district for hours. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, Eagle News Feed reported.
Fish Section Engulfed as Traders Scramble to Save Goods
The fire started in the fish section, where dried fish products and other combustible materials helped the blaze spread fast. Flames raced into the Gorofani section as hundreds of traders rushed in to pull merchandise from burning stalls. Witnesses described panic and heavy smoke rising high above the market, Radio 47 reported.
Getting the fire under control was hard. The market's narrow alleys blocked fire engines from reaching the center. People Daily reported that responders worked to keep access routes clear as crowds surged in. Damping-down operations continued well past the initial containment to stop the fire from reigniting in the packed stalls.
Traders Face Ruin as Losses Run Into Millions
By noon, traders were sifting through ash in the Gorofani section. The Gikomba Traders Association put preliminary losses at upward of Ksh 50 million in stock and structures. Many sellers had already been struggling after the February 2026 fire and now face permanent closure. Nation Africa reported traders describing the damage as total.
Most Gikomba traders have no insurance. Because the market is considered high-risk, coverage is nearly impossible to get. That means every shilling lost in the fire is gone for good. Government "consolation" funds have been offered after past fires, but traders say the amounts are far too small to rebuild. "We don't want sympathies; we want to know why the promised fire hydrants and wider access roads are never completed," one trader leader told Nation Africa.
Two Decades of Gikomba Fires, With No End in Sight
Sunday's fire is part of a grim pattern. In September 2000, a fire in the second-hand clothing area burned for over eight hours. In June 2018, the deadliest blaze in the market's history struck the Kwa-Mbao section, killing 15 people and injuring more than 70. Since 2020, this is now the eighth major fire reported at Gikomba — with the most recent previous outbreak in February 2026, just four months ago.
The core problem has stayed the same for years. The market is densely packed, stalls are built from wood, and electrical connections are often unsafe. Fire engines cannot reach the center. A government project to build a modern multi-story market has moved slowly, and many traders resist relocating because of high rents and reduced foot traffic. "Until the market is formalized with clear title deeds and modern fire suppression systems, these incidents will remain recurring," urban planning expert Dr. Alfred Omenya has previously warned, according to Nation Africa.
Arson Suspicions Cloud Calls for Accountability
Traders and some politicians are not convinced the fires are accidents. Some point to the fact that outbreaks tend to hit areas where land disputes are active or where new construction is planned. The 4 a.m. timing of Sunday's fire drew fresh suspicion on social media, with the hashtag #GikombaFires trending as users demanded answers. The National Police Service declared the site a crime scene while investigators worked to find the fire's origin, Eagle News Feed reported.
The Nairobi County government pushed back, stressing the speed of its response. "Our multi-agency teams moved with speed to contain the blaze and prevented a total loss of the market," the administration said in a statement. Traders want more than assurances. They are calling for transparent investigations, working fire hydrants, and wider roads — demands that have been made, and gone unmet, after every major fire for twenty years.
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