A section of traders whose stalls were burned down and property reduced to ashes at Makongeni market in Thika sub-county by suspected arsonists on Sunday want the Kiambu county government to compensate them for the loss.
The traders claim that their property was reduced to ashes and have nothing else to do.
Speaking on Monday, the traders alleged that police officers watched as a group of people allegedly burnt down there market and that they must be compensated in order to start business afresh.
“We are appealing to the government through the leadership of governor William Kabogo to intervene and make sure that we (traders) are paid for the loss of property,” said Esther Macharia, a trader who lost property during the Sunday inferno.
Macharia said that as traders they had invested everything into their businesses and that they have nothing to depend on.
“Our property and lives have been ruined, I don’t know even where to start from yet I have to pay bills and school fees,” said John Njung'e a trader who claims to have lost over half a million in the inferno.
On Sunday fire razed down a section of the Makongeni market stalls living a trail of destruction. According to a section of traders who sought to remain anonymous the fire was allegedly started by a group of youths who were allegedly spotted on Saturday evening carrying jerricans allegedly containing petrol that was used to set the market ablaze.
Police have since launched probe into the inferno with various leaders calling for speedy investigations.
Area MP Alice Ng’ang’a who visited the market on Monday asked the county government to compensate traders.
She said that traders largely depended on the market for their livelihoods. Ng’ang’a also called for arrest of the people suspected to have torched down the market.