Wavinya Ndeti pledges support for victims of Machakos Mitumba Market fire
By Faith Lagat, July 5, 2026Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has pledged full support for traders affected by a fire that razed Machakos Mitumba Market, leaving behind extensive damage and disrupted livelihoods.
In a Facebook post dated July 5, 2026, Governor Wavinya Ndeti expressed sorrow over the incident.
“I am deeply saddened by the devastating fire at Machakos Mitumba Market that has destroyed businesses and disrupted the livelihoods of many hardworking traders,” she wrote.
“My administration will stand with every affected trader as we assess the damage and support recovery efforts,” she added.
She expressed solidarity with affected traders and their families while commending the Machakos County Fire and Rescue Team for their swift response in containing the blaze.
The inferno broke out around midnight on Saturday, July 4, 2026, and rapidly spread through densely packed stalls stocked with second-hand clothes, shoes, household goods and other merchandise. By Sunday morning, July 5, 2026, smoke was still rising from the remains as the Machakos County Fire and Emergency Services team continued efforts to fully extinguish hotspots and secure the area.
Firefighters remained on site for several hours to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby businesses. Traders later returned to the scene, sifting through burnt timber, twisted iron sheets and ash in search of salvaged items.
Many of the affected traders relied on the market as their main source of income, using daily earnings to support households, pay school fees and restock goods. The destruction has left dozens of families counting heavy financial losses.
Call for an investigation
Governor Ndeti also called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and urged security agencies to share their findings publicly once completed.
Calls for safer market infrastructure
The governor reaffirmed her commitment to improving market infrastructure, saying she plans to support the development of a modern, safe, and well-planned trading centre to provide traders with a more secure business environment.
The fire comes at a time of renewed concern over recurring market blazes in Kenya, including the June 21, 2026, fire at Nairobi’s Gikomba Market that took hours to contain and left several people injured while disrupting trading activities.
Former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka also urged both county and national governments to provide immediate relief and strengthen fire safety systems in informal markets. He called for modern infrastructure, improved emergency response equipment, and stronger safety standards to reduce future risks.
Traders affected by the Machakos fire await support and recovery measures aimed at restoring livelihoods and rebuilding the damaged market.