Drama unfolded on Saturday, August 3, 2024, afternoon at Toi Market in Kibra Constituency, after Nairobi County governor Johnson Sakaja was stoned by angry traders.
Governor Sakaja had visited the scene where an early morning fire burnt down the famous Toi Market, leaving a trail of four fatalities and destruction of property of unknown value.
However, the Nairobi governor was unceremoniously welcomed by the irate group of traders who pelted stones at him prompting him to flee the scene.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, governor Sakaja is seen in the middle of a group of men who were escorting him from the scene while also shielding him as stones were being continuously pelted towards them.
At the same time, other witnesses who were near the scene were captured scampering for safety to avoid being injured by the stones which were raining heavily from the opposite direction.
Governor Sakaja Stoned at Toi Market, Breaks Silence
“Ndiye uyo Sakaja anafukuzwa, Sakaja anafukuzwa,” a female can be heard saying. This loosely translates to, “Sakaja is being chased away.”
Also Read: Four Killed as Night Fire Burns Down Toi Market
Following the melee, Sakaja broke his silence going ahead to call out the group which stoned him, adding that the incident will not stop the Nairobi City County government from supporting its people.
The governor noted that he had visited traders at the market where he sent his condolences to the bereaved further revealing that the County recorded a total of 7 separate fires across the city last night.
“Visited traders affected by fire incidents at Toi Market and later at Umoja 2. Poleni sana to all affected and condolences to the bereaved. Sadly, we lost 4 souls in the Toi inferno. For those who caused incitement, it is well, nothing will stop us from supporting our people,” said Sakaja.
The governor further said that the government will support the families of the bereaved, rebuild stalls for the traders and help them get back to their feet.
At the same time, Sakaja thanked the first responders and all who tried to help salvage the situation.
Governor Sakaja had visited the market after the early morning blaze affected over 2,000 traders, with preliminary investigations indicating an electrical fault as the cause of the fire.
Babu Owino demands for Compensation of Traders
Earlier, Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino had visited the scene where he demanded for compensation of victims.
Also Read: Sifuna Calls Out Sakaja Over Hazardous City Dumpsite
In a statement on Saturday, Babu Owino said that several traders lost goods worth millions, further calling out the Nairobi County government for failing to respond to the incident on time.
“Today together with the area Member of Parliament Hon. Orero, we visited Toi Market in Kibra Constituency after fire razed down their property. Four people lost their lives while trying to put out fire. Several traders lost their goods worth millions of shillings under the watch of the sleeping county Government of Nairobi that failed to intervene on time,” said the Embakasi East MP.
The lawmaker demanded for governor Sakaja to use the disaster management fund to compensate those who lost their property.
Toi Market is a trading center situated in Kibra Constituency which is popular with among others, foodstuffs and secondhand clothes.
In June last year, the entire market was razed down in a tragic incident and there have been calls to find a solution to such incidents.
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