Ali Sheikh
Wajir.
A ferocious overnight fire has gutted Wajir’s iconic Soko Mjinga market, reducing large sections to ashes and leaving traders counting losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of shillings.
The blaze broke out at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, November 23, and rapidly tore through the sprawling market, a critical economic lifeline for hundreds of families in Wajir County.
Fueled by tightly packed merchandise including textiles, electronics, foodstuffs, and household wares, the flames spread with devastating speed.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as traders rushed to salvage what they could, only to be overwhelmed by the inferno.
“We watched helplessly as our livelihoods burned,” said Amina Hassan, a vendor who lost her entire textile stock worth more than Sh2 million.
Another trader, Safi Ali Salah, whose stall and Sh4 million inventory were completely destroyed, said, “My investment of over 18 years has gone up in smoke. This market is my everything, and now it’s gone.”
Soko Mjinga, known locally as the “Fool’s Market” for its historically bargain-filled stalls, is Wajir town’s largest marketplace.
County fire crews, constrained by limited equipment and obstructed by the market’s congested layout, battled the flames for over three hours before finally bringing the fire under control in the early morning.
Preliminary assessments by authorities indicate extensive destruction of at least 50 stalls and several nearby shops adjacent to the Chief’s Camp. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
“Many traders here operate on razor-thin margins, often borrowing heavily to stock their stalls. This fire doesn’t just burn goods, it shatters dreams,” said an official from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wajir Branch, after inspecting the scene at dawn.
The tragedy adds to a troubling trend across the region. Markets such as Souk Mugdi in Garissa town and the Hagardera refugee camp market have suffered similar large-scale fires this year, each incident leaving traders devastated and financially crippled.
The cause of the Soko Mjinga fire remains under investigation, though early indicators point to potential electrical faults or unattended fires that are often recurrent hazards in densely populated informal trading spaces.
“We are appealing to the government and well-wishers for urgent support,” said trader Mohamed Ibrahim, standing amid the smouldering debris.