Ndhiwa town traders counting losses as fire destroy shops

Kanyamwa Kosewe MCA Nicholas Awaka (in suit) when he visited the building that caught fire in Ndhiwa town on Saturday destroying traders’ property. [James Omoro, Standard].

Traders in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, are counting losses after property worth millions of shillings were reduced to ashes on Saturday night.

 The fire which started at 1am destroyed photocopying and printing machines, gas cylinders, refrigerators, mattresses, motorbikes, alongside consumable and non-consumable items.

Kanyamwa Kosewe MCA Nicholas Awaka who rushed to the scene during the incident said no property was salvaged.

Owaka said efforts by residents to put out the fire proved futile after the whole building housing the shops caught fire.

He challenged county department of disaster management to put in place proper modalities of fighting fire in the area.

 “The County Government now has firefighting engines but I want to tell the director of disaster management to give residents guidelines on how they can be reached in case of a disaster,” said Owaka.

The MCA also challenged Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino to lobby the National Government officials in ensuring Rodi Kopany- Ndhiwa road is constructed.

Owaka argued that the poor state of the road could have deterred the firefighting engines from travelling from Homa Bay town to Ndhiwa during the incident.

“The firefighting machines could not have salvaged this incident because the road is impassible to allow swift movement of vehicles between Homa Bay and Ndhiwa towns. I urge our MP to lobby for funds from the National government to repair the road,” the MCA added.

Victims attributed the incident to arson.

According to Hope Odhiambo, one of the affected traders, the fire was started by someone with ill motive.

 “I heard someone step on the roof of my shop. When I moved from the bed, I discovered the fire had already been lit,” said Odhiambo.

 The victims pleaded for humanitarian aid from well-wishers to help them establish their business after salvaging nothing.

“This incident is a serious economic drawback for us. We have lost the entire stock in our premises and we ask well-wishers to come to our aid,” said Joseph Otieno, another victim.

Owaka called on police to conduct investigations and arrest those who could be behind the fire.

“I call on the police to investigate and take legal action against the suspected arsonist,” the MCA added.