Contractor given 7 days to finish installing CCTVs in Gikomba to curb fires

The Government has given the contractor installing security cameras at Gikomba market seven days to complete the work to help end frequent fires at the market.

The ultimatum from interior PS Karanja Kibicho coming hours after a mysterious fire razed down several stalls in the market.

The cause of the fire like most of the previous fires remains unknown.

And while touring the market after last night’s fire,Interior PS Karanja Kibicho said there is need to monitor the market to ensure that there is no hand in the frequent fires within the market…

Kibicho who was accompanied by NMS Director General Mohammed Badi and KamukunjiMmember of Parliament Yusuf Hassan assuring the traders that CCTV’s will be put up.

“We will improve on the lighting, we have directed the regional team to map 10 lighting points and those lights we will add CCTV cameras,” PS Kibicho said on Friday.

But even as they tackle the CCTV problem, Kibicho noted that accessibility into the market is a major challenge during emergencies.

That is besides congestion in the market, Kibicho says the government has completed new closed market in Gikomba and another one will be ready by June next year.

According to PS Kibicho, this will reduce the number of traders that have encroached on roads.

“We are appealing to the traders to vacate the road coz you find some of them have put their kiosks on the road.” Kibicho added.

Kibicho said his visit was to assess the damage in order for the government to step in and assist those affected by the fire.

“We have two categories here, residents living here who were affected, we have given something small as we assess the entire situation,” Kibicho said.

Traders and residents of Gikomba market are still counting their losses as they hope that the government will this time round make good its word and compensate them.