Another fierce night fire in Korogocho market in Nairobi left traders counting huge loses.
Confirming the incidence, Mr Nicholas Mwange, the treasurer of the market said that the fire broke out few minutes before 10 PM taking down stalls and goods of unknown value.
The fire which started from the central section of the informal market took down 120 stalls. According to Mr. Mwange, the central section has shanty eateries and kitchens.
“We suspect the owner of the restaurant forgot to douse the flames before leaving,” he said.
The inferno, which spread quickly, destroyed more than 100 stalls of onions, tomatoes, cabbages and other stocks of potatoes and bananas were destroyed.
Korogocho Senior Chief Nyabuto Omachi affirmed that there were no causalities during the incidence.
“No one was here when the fire broke out. No one sleeps here, except the watchmen,” said Mr. Omachi.
Through the help of firefighters from Nairobi county government, the Kenya Red Cross, traders and residents, the mysterious fire was contained after an hour.
The market has over 5,000 traders. The cause of the fire is not yet known with some traders blaming it on arsonists.
Korogocho mainly serves residents from Kariobangi, Dandora, Baba Dogo, Buruburu, Huruma and Kiamaiko.