Nairobi Woman Heartbroken After Fire Razes Down Her Shop at Toi Market: “Nitaanzia Wapi?”

A woman heartbroken after her business at Toi market is burnt to ground

Businesswoman Brenda Fieres was devastated after a fire ravaged her shop at Toi Market. Brenda has been taken back to zero as she could not salvage her stock. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, destroying her livelihood and everything she had worked hard to build. In a Facebook post, Brenda disclosed that she received a frantic call at around 5 a.m. informing her that Toi Market was ablaze. Without hesitation, she rushed from her home in Jamhuri Estate, leaving her daughter behind, to try and save her shop, Tee Kid’s Kloset.  Recounting the harrowing experience, the young mother expressed her despair as she arrived at the burning market. How many people died in the Toi Market fire?

The flames spread swiftly, and despite the efforts of those present, it became clear that nothing could be saved. “The fire spread so fast and within a blink, the fire was two shops behind us, then boom, blackout,” she recalled. She experienced a panic attack, rendering her immobile as she watched helplessly while the fire consumed her shop. Brenda and others narrowly escaped the inferno, but tragically, four lives were lost just steps away from her shop. What had Brenda stocked in the shop?

The loss hit her hard, mainly as she had just stocked her second shop with new merchandise. Part of the stock included three bales of clothing that she had opened only the previous day. “Just when I was on my feet, gotten and stocked well the second shop. Boom,” she lamented. The fire left her with nothing but ashes and a sense of helplessness. How much stock did Brenda lose? When reached for comment, Brenda told TUKO.co.ke that she started her business in 2021 after the pandemic. Before the fire took her several steps behind, she had grown to own two well-stocked shops. “I had bought two bales worth KSh 150,000, which I spent to my last penny knowing I would recover since schools are closed. I was optimistic,” she lamented. She added that several theories exist regarding the cause of the fire, with speculations ranging from the government to Nubians to the market security guys and land grabbers. Brenda and other affected traders are left to pick up the pieces and contemplate how to rebuild their lives after this tragic event. “My businesses, my shops, my life, my everything. Saved nothing. Ashes tupu,” she wrote, her words capturing her despair and hopelessness. 

by  Hillary Lisimba