A huge fire that destroyed property at Kisumu’s Kibuye market exposed the disaster preparedness of the county government as officials pointed fingers at each other over the tragedy.
Kibuye market has been experiencing such tragedies every year.
This could be prevented if there was proper planning of the open air market that can ease movement of the fire engine and also quick response by the county government in handling such tragedy.
The fire which started at around seven in the evening gutted down hotels, shops, stores, second hand clothes area and carpentry section leaving a trail of destruction and distraught traders who had lost their source of livelihood.
The fire is alleged to have been caused by an electricity fault owing to the on and off black outs that Friday evening.
The strong wind worsened the situation as the fire spread to other shops so fast that it took the help of the youth to bring down structures to prevent the flames from extending to other shops.
“This fire could have been contained had the fire engine been efficient and reached the scene in good time,” said George Ochieng, a trader whose retail shop was razed to the ground.
The first fire engine at the scene failed to contain the fire as it came with its water tank empty.
It took more than an hour for it to refill its tank and return to the scene.
Not even the attempts by some traders to extinguish the fire using buckets and other containers bore fruit.
The fire went on until morning as traders mourned their property which they had put ready for the market day.
Clifford Asweto said he had lost his sewing machine, other tools of carpentry and his furniture.