Chaos, loss, and anger gripped Kisumu on Thursday, October 2 evening after part of the Kibuye Market caved in during a heavy downpour, leaving traders nursing injuries and counting losses of unknown value.

The disaster has reignited questions about accountability in public projects, as the facility — built in phases at a cost of KSh500 million and launched with pomp in 2020 — has crumbled in barely four years.

Twisted iron sheets, mangled beams, and smashed stalls were all that remained as the rain subsided, with shocked traders scrambling to salvage what little was left of their stock. Goods worth millions — ranging from mainly from foodstuffs to assorted goods — were destroyed, while dozens of traders sustained injuries in the chaos.

“It came down like thunder. People screamed, stalls collapsed, and we just ran for our lives. This market was supposed to protect us, but instead it has buried us in losses,” said one shaken trader.

Kibuye Market was touted as the crown jewel of Kisumu’s economic transformation — a state-of-the-art hub designed to accommodate thousands of traders and attract regional commerce, durbed as Kibuye Ultra Modern Market in a much hyped launch, Officials had sold it as a model facility, promising safety, dignity, and growth for East Africa’s largest open-air market.

But Wednesday’s collapse has punctured those promises, raising serious questions about structural integrity, supervision, and whether taxpayers got value for the half a billion shillings sunk into the project.

“This is a scandal hiding in plain sight. How does a KSh500 million ‘ultra modern’ market collapse within four years? Somebody signed off on this. Somebody must answer,” said a furious resident at the scene.

By press time, Kisumu County authorities had not released official casualty figures or explained the collapse, fueling growing outrage among traders and the public.

Kibuye Market has for decades been the heartbeat of Kisumu’s trade, drawing buyers and sellers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and beyond. Its modernization was meant to secure that legacy. Instead, the fallen roof now stands as a chilling symbol of neglect, poor oversight, and broken promises.

For traders whose livelihoods now lie under twisted metal, the disaster is more than a loss of goods — it is a betrayal.