Market vendors in Kitengela are counting losses after an early morning fire destroyed their property.
According to Racheal Peshut, the chairperson of the market, the fire started at 2 am and was put out at 5 am after it had already razed down property worth millions of shillings.
The chairperson faulted Kitengela Police and Kitengela Municipality for not helping in putting out the fire yet the police station and the fire engine from the Municipality are a few minutes away from the market.
“The police would have arrived here in three minutes as their station is a stone throw away from here yet they did not come to help us. The Kitengela Municipality fire engine was also parked a few metres from here but it had no water nor fuel. This was a let down from both entities,” said Peshut.
She remarks that though the cause of the fire has not been fully established, they suspect that it was caused by goons who wanted to be allocated slots in the new Kitengela Market that is yet to be opened.
While visiting the scene of the incident, area Member of County Assembly, Paul Matuyia and Sub County administrator Bruce Likama said that the County Government will compensate all those affected by the inferno.
Joseph Masea, a market vendor urged the County Government to enhance security in the market and to ensure that the fire engine always has water and fuel to avoid further losses in future.
By Diana Meneto
