• Traders count losses after stalls and property are destroyed after fire breaks out at Toi Market, Nairobi.

The fire broke out early on Monday morning,causing panic among traders and residents nearby. Flames quickly spread across several stalls.Goods worth thousands of shillings were destroyed in minutes.

Witnesses said the fire broke out suddenly and intensified within minutes. Firefighters have since been deployed at the scene and are currently fighting the blaze at the time of publication of this article.

“The fire spread very fast through the stalls. We tried to save some of our goods, but most of them were already burning. I have lost everything, and I don’t know where to start again,” said one trader.

Kibra MP Peter Orero said the fire has been successfully contained and thanked the emergency response for their swift actions.He also announced that pupils at the nearby Toi Primary School were released and sent home as a precautionary measure while emergency teams worked to put out the fire.

“As a precautionary measure, students were released and sent home safely earlier today. I want to reassure all parents that the school is not under threat; the evacuation was a safety priority while emergency teams worked nearby,” Orero said in a statement.

Toi market is is one of the largest informal markets in Nairobi. The market is located near the Kibra area. It sits along Suna Road near Ngong Road. Thousands of traders operate in the market every day.It is known for selling affordable goods especially second-hand clothing.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and authorities are expected to launch investigations.

The latest incident has once again raised concerns among traders in Kibra, where repeated fires have been reported at the market over the years.