Property of unknown value was destroyed by early morning fire that razed kiosks at Mwembe Estate, Kisii Township on Tuesday.
According to Ms Jane Monyangi, who is a caretaker and kiosk operator at the compound where the kiosks are housed, the fire begun at around 5:30 a.m.
"I had woken up to fetch water before changing shifts with my partner when I saw smoke filling my kiosk. On rushing out to see the source of the smoke, I found the entire complex of kiosks on fire," she said.
"My neighbours then came to my rescue, helping me to salvage the property in some of the neighbouring kiosks. I did not salvage anything from my own kiosk," said added.
The shaken trader said she was forced to leave her house without salvaging anything of value.
"The blaze broke out so suddenly I had no time to save my own property. I ran out half-naked. Even my phone was burnt in the blaze," she said.
Kisii County Disaster Recovery department fire brigade later joined in efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Police have launched investigations into the incident in which no casualties were reported.
"At this point, it is too early to speculate on the cause of the fire. We are yet to establish the cause of the fire," Kisii Central OCS Phillip Lucheveli who was at the scene said.