Kakamega traders count losses after night inferno

Fire engulfs stalls in Kakamega town on Wednesday night. Property of unknown value was destroyed in the four-hour long inferno. (Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard)

Property worth millions was reduced to ashes following an inferno that razed shops in Kakamega town Wednesday night.

The fire which lasted for hours is believed to have started around 10pm and burnt down 10 shops and over six stalls.

Angry residents protested against the county government accusing it for failure to avail fire fighters in good time.

They said the fire could have been contained had the engines been deployed faster.

A business woman, Beatrice Kwendo, said she was called around 10pm by security guards telling her that her shop was on fire.

She says when she arrived at the scene she found fire brigade trying to put out the fire though they had run out of water and that proved an obstacle.

"I don't know what happened but when I arrived, my restaurant was on fire and I couldn’t salvage anything. I lost goods worthy Sh500, 000,” a shaken and weeping Kwendo narrated.

The business lady admitted that she had not insured her business due to the high cost of insuring properties.

Victor Ososi said he has just expanded his retail shop business after acquiring a sh1 million loan from the bank.

"This fire could have been contained had the fire engines arrived earlier. The machines are new and I am still at loss to understand how it can take almost four hours to have water filled in the engines. The county government let us down," said Ososi.

Kakamega County Executive in Charge of Trade Elsie Muhanda expressed her regrets at the loss and promised to help the traders who lost their fortunes.

"We will sit down with the traders and consult on how we will help them re-establish their business. This was an accident that could have been salvaged but we can't cry over spilled milk. We will help the traders," Muhanda promised the business people.

Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of security coordination in Kakamega County Paul Kerich said they are yet to establish the cause of the fire.

"We received a report that there was fire in town and when we rushed to the scene, we found the shops engulfed in the blaze. We are carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the fire, "he said.

He noted that the fire burnt down the two restaurants, three M-pesa agent shops, a cyber café, a salon, tailoring shops, retail shop and a motor cycle selling shop.