'No trader will be displaced,' Sakaja assures Gikomba fire victims

Speaking after the blaze, which destroyed sections of the country's largest open-air market, Sakaja said the county government had launched an enumeration exercise to establish the number of affected traders and the scale of losses incurred.

The governor said the county administration was consulting leaders from Gikomba's 32 market sections and working with local administrators and elected leaders to coordinate the response and determine the support required.

“To the Gikomba business community, your pain is our pain,” Sakaja said, noting that discussions were ongoing with market chairpersons, the area County Commissioner, Member of Parliament and Member of County Assembly.

He said details of any assistance package would be communicated after the assessment exercise is completed.

Sakaja also sought to allay concerns among traders over possible displacement, stating that affected traders would be allowed to rebuild and resume business from their original trading locations. He maintained that the fire would not be used as a basis for evictions or changes in market allocations.

“My administration is already reviewing immediate logistical mechanisms to support your recovery and help you rebuild. We will not abandon you,” he said.

The assurances come as thousands of traders count losses following the latest fire incident at Gikomba Market, which has experienced several major blazes over the years. Investigations into the cause of Sunday's fire are ongoing, even as efforts shift towards restoring business operations and livelihoods for those affected.