Kericho traders are counting losses after a devastating fire broke out at the Kericho Main Stage on the night of February 25, 2025, destroying over 20 stalls and leaving the hard earners in distress as goods worth an unconfirmed amount were reduced to ashes.
The County Government of Kericho in a press statement expressed deep regret over the incident and assured affected traders of support in their recovery. Governor Erick Mutai reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening disaster response and assisting those who lost their businesses.
The county’s Disaster and Fire Department had earlier responded to a separate fire in Litein Town at around 9:00 PM. While firefighters were returning to Kericho, another fire broke at the busy bus stage at approximately 10:00 PM, prompting an urgent response.
The Deputy County Commissioner for Kericho East Sub County Kibe Maguta confirmed the extent of the damage urging traders to remain calm as investigations to justify the root cause of the inferno begin.
“More than 20 stalls have been destroyed, and many traders have suffered huge losses. Fortunately, Finlays Disaster Management came to our aid and helped contain the fire,” Maguta stated.
Despite the firefighting team’s swift action, efforts to contain the blaze were hampered by a shortage of water, as resources had already been deployed to contain the Litein fire incident.
The county government had to seek additional support from Finlays, whose intervention was crucial in putting out the fire.
Several traders however expressed frustration over what they termed a delayed response as Rose Rotich, a businesswoman at the main stage, lamented.
“I received a call at 10:00 PM, and when we arrived, the fire had already spread. We called the county government for help, but they took an hour and a half to respond. I lost all my business materials from two shops. We plead with the county to help us recover,” Mrs. Rotich lamented.
Another resident, Boniface Tonui also reported cases of looting as some individuals took advantage of the chaos and the stampede therein.
“We tried to salvage some goods, but some people used the opportunity to steal. The fire should have been contained earlier, but there was a delay from the emergency teams,” Tonui explained.
The County Government of Kericho has acknowledged the challenges faced during the response and promised to assess the damage. Authorities have also launched investigations to determine the cause of the fire and identify measures to improve disaster preparedness.
The incident has raised concerns over fire response efficiency in the county, with calls for better-equipped firefighting units with many traders urging the government to establish a more robust fire department to prevent future losses.
As traders begin the difficult process of rebuilding their businesses, the county government is expected to announce possible relief measures and swift intervention to help affected business persons recover from the tragedy.
By Gilbert Mutai
