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Governor Jack Ranguma has directed revenue collectors to exempt traders who lost property during Friday night's inferno at Kibuye market.

The governor said the traders will be assisted to resume business before they can start to pay tax.

The fire which started on Friday night consumed property of unknown value at the garment and wood workshop section near Avenue Hospital, with witnesses suspecting it was due to an electric fault.

The governor who visited the market on Friday night and Saturday morning also said he will negotiate with various banks owed by the traders, to have the victims given temporary stay for repayment of the loans.

“This morning I went to condole with the victims of Kibuye fire tragedy and to assess the extent of the damage. I was also there late yesternight to be in solidarity with them. The damage is huge! In response, I have ordered the Engineers and Architects, both from the city and the county to go to the site and begin planning immediately for reconstruction work to begin,” said Ranguma.

He added: “I am also going to negotiate with various banks where the traders had borrowed loans to give a temporary stay on repayment awaiting the traders to resume their normal businesses. As a county government, we will give the traders some money to enable them kick-start their businesses.”

“During this moment, I urge politicians to keep off unnecessary politics which can exacerbate the situation. We however welcome their interventions to help us rebuild Kibuye because it a major source of livelihood to our residents,” said Ranguma.