Traders at Keumbu Market in Kisii County are counting heavy losses following a fire that destroyed several business premises and structures in an overnight inferno.
The fire, which broke out around midnight, completely razed several buildings and makeshift business stalls within the busy market, leaving traders counting losses after their property and merchandise were reduced to ashes.
Keumbu Market Chairman Samwel Ombui Ongaki said traders suspect the fire started at one of the stalls that was being operated as a hotel before spreading rapidly to neighbouring businesses.
Ongaki said the flames quickly engulfed several structures, leaving traders with little time to salvage their goods and other valuables.
He noted that emergency response efforts were initiated promptly, helping contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the market.
Despite the intervention, several traders lost their merchandise, business equipment and other property in the incident.
The market chairman urged affected traders to remain calm as investigations begin to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine the full extent of the losses.
He said the assessment would help establish the scale of the destruction and provide a clearer picture of the impact on businesses operating within the market.
The incident has left traders facing an uncertain future, with some likely to require significant resources to rebuild their premises and resume operations.
Meanwhile, police in Kisii County are investigating a separate incident in which a man died following a hit-and-run accident along the Kisii-Keroka road.
The victim, identified as Machoka Onderi, was struck by a vehicle at Eremo area in Keumbu.
According to reports from the scene, the vehicle hit the man before the driver fled, leaving him with fatal head injuries.
The circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear, with the identity of the driver and the vehicle involved yet to be established.
Police officers from Kisii were alerted to the incident and rushed to the scene, where they found the victim's body.
The body was subsequently moved to the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary as investigations into the fatal accident commenced.
Authorities are expected to pursue leads to identify the vehicle involved and establish the circumstances that led to the pedestrian's death.
The incident has renewed concerns over road safety along the busy Kisii-Keroka highway, where motorists and pedestrians share the road.
Police have urged motorists to exercise caution and observe traffic regulations, while appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the accident or have information that could assist investigations to come forward.
The two incidents have left residents and traders grappling with separate tragedies, as investigations continue into the market fire and the fatal hit-and-run accident.
