Almost a week after Thika's Madaraka Market was razed by yet to be identified arsonists, residents who shop at the market have started bearing the brunt of high commodity prices.
Many commodities, especially the agricultural ones that were available in plenty at the market few days ago, are either unavailable or scarce.
This has driven the traders to sell them at high prices. Jane Wangunyu, the Madaraka Market chairperson has attributed the scarcity to the losses the traders suffered when the market was burnt.
"No single trader in the market was able to salvage his/her stock. Many had just bought enough stock to last over that whole weekend when the arsonists struck. This means many lost their money in the burnt stock and are not yet able to buy more," said Wangunyu on Thursday.
She said that those who are able to bring merchandise are only able to bring in small quantities due to strained finances as well as fear of losing more stock.
"Of course nobody will bring more than what they can be able to sell in a single day. Fears of a similar attack are still rife among traders," she added.
Esther Wanjiru, a Kisii resident and a regular buyer at the market said that a sharp drop in commodity prices at the market before the attack has been disrupted by the incidence.
"Things are no longer the way they were before the Sunday's attack. One has to now dig deeper into the pocket to buy anything at the market," she said at the market on Thursday.