Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has expressed sympathy with traders affected by the latest fire outbreak at Gikomba Market, describing the incident as a heartbreaking setback for hard-working Nairobians who depend on the market for their livelihoods.

In a statement issued following the fire on Sunday, June 21, 2026, Babu Owino lamented the recurring infernos that have repeatedly devastated one of the country’s largest open-air markets. He said it was painful to imagine traders reporting to work only to find their businesses reduced to ashes.

“Another day, another fire at Gikomba. Can this just stop?” Owino said.

The legislator noted that thousands of families rely on the market for daily income, adding that every fire outbreak not only destroys property but also threatens the livelihoods of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters striving to put food on the table.

“It is a very sad morning to receive yet another report of a fire outbreak at Gikomba Market. Our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters wake up every day to work hard and put food on the table. I can only imagine the pain of traders returning to their businesses only to find ashes,” he added.

Seeking to reassure affected traders and residents, Babu vowed that lasting solutions would be pursued to end the recurring fires that have become synonymous with the market.

“Do not worry, Nairobians. We will fix this mess. These fires at Gikomba Market will soon be a thing of the past,” he added.

His remarks come as traders and leaders continue to call for enhanced fire safety measures, improved infrastructure, and investigations into the causes of the recurrent blazes that have repeatedly disrupted business operations at Gikomba Market.

The fire incident

His remarks come as traders and leaders continue to call for enhanced fire safety measures after a fire incident broke out at Nairobi’s busy market on Sunday, June 21, 2026, with the blaze reported near the fish section, triggering an emergency response as authorities move to contain the situation and prevent further destruction at one of the country’s largest open-air trading hubs.

In a statement shared by Kenya Red Cross Society on its X account on Sunday, June 21, 2026, the humanitarian agency confirmed that emergency response teams had been deployed to the scene as efforts began to contain the rapidly spreading blaze.

The fire, whose cause had not been immediately established by the time of publication, triggered a swift emergency response in one of the capital’s busiest informal trading centres, with responders moving quickly to assess the situation and prevent further destruction.

“A huge fire has been reported at Gikomba Market near the fish side area. Response teams are at the scene. Updates to follow,” Kenya Red Cross said in the statement.

The latest incident has once again reignited concerns over the vulnerability of traders to devastating losses and renewed calls for authorities to implement long-term measures to protect livelihoods and safeguard the market from future disasters.