Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has moved to reassure thousands of Gikomba traders affected by Sunday’s devastating fire, pledging that no trader will lose their trading space and promising urgent interventions to help businesses recover.

Addressing the aftermath of the blaze that razed sections of the sprawling market, Sakaja said his administration had already begun consultations with leaders from all 32 sections of Gikomba and was working closely with local administrators and elected leaders to assess the damage and coordinate support measures.

The county government has launched an enumeration exercise to establish the extent of losses and identify affected traders as part of plans to roll out recovery interventions.

“To the Gikomba business community, your pain is our pain,” the Governor said, adding that the county was in constant contact with market chairpersons, the area County Commissioner, Member of Parliament and MCA to fast-track assistance efforts. He assured traders that details of the support package would be communicated once the assessment exercise is completed.

Sakaja further sought to calm fears of displacement, insisting that the fire would not be used as an excuse to evict traders or alter ownership of trading spaces within the market. He said affected traders would be allowed to rebuild and resume operations from their original locations even as the county continues with plans to modernize Gikomba Market.

“My administration is already reviewing immediate logistical mechanisms to support your recovery and help you rebuild. We will not abandon you,” the Governor said.

The assurance is expected to bring relief to thousands of small-scale traders whose businesses were reduced to ashes in the fire, one of the latest disasters to hit the country’s largest open-air market. As investigations into the cause of the blaze continue, attention has now shifted to the recovery process and efforts to restore livelihoods for the affected business community.