Kisumu: Traders in Kisumu’s Robert Ouko Estate are counting heavy losses after a fire razed 10 shops, destroying goods of unknown value and leaving businesses in ruins.
According to Kenya News Agency, the blaze, whose cause is yet to be officially established, swept rapidly through the business premises, reducing the structures to ashes before firefighters from the Kisumu County Government managed to bring it under control.
Witnesses said the fire spread at high speed, giving traders and residents little time to salvage any property as flames engulfed the affected shops. Affected traders described the incident as a devastating setback, saying most of them relied entirely on their businesses for daily livelihoods.
‘We have lost everything. Nothing was salvaged from the shops. We appeal to the county government and well-wishers to support us as we try to rebuild our businesses,’ said trader Florence alias Nyosiri. Another trader, Everline Oricho, recounted arriving at the scene only to find her shop already engulfed in flames, leaving her helpless as she watched her stock burn.
The traders commended the county fire brigade for responding promptly after the alarm was raised, noting that their intervention helped prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings and causing further destruction. Firefighters managed to contain the inferno, averting what residents said could have been a much larger disaster in the densely populated estate.
Obunga Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Frederick Otieno confirmed the incident, stating that nothing was salvaged from the affected premises. He added that preliminary investigations point to a possible electrical fault as the cause of the fire, although the exact cause is still under investigation. He urged traders and property owners to ensure regular inspection of electrical installations and adhere to fire safety standards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Residents also called for improved fire preparedness measures within the estate, including faster emergency response systems and enhanced safety awareness in commercial zones. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.
