State asks Gikomba traders to volunteer information on frequent fires
Interior Ministry Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Eng. Karanja Kibicho has challenged leaders and the business community in Gikomba to volunteer information to help bring the culprits responsible for the frequent arson cases in the Market to book.
Acting on orders from H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, Dr. Kibicho was at the market today to assess the damage after another fire razed down a section of the busy and popular market.
He had been accompanied to the area by State Department for Housing and Urban Development PS Mr. Charles Hinga, Kamukunji MP Hon. Yusuf Hassan, Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director General (DG) Major Mohamed Badi, Nairobi Regional Commander Mr. Philip Ndolo and Nairobi Regional Commissioner Wilson Njega.
Dr. Kibicho later held a closed-door meeting at the Pumwani ACC’s office with security officials and select business community representatives. He said that the perpetrators are known and it was therefore the responsibility of the area residents, leaders and business people to help security agencies to apprehend them.
“No intelligence service or police officer can succeed in apprehending the culprits or solving these mystery infernos without your input,” he said.
He added that a command center has been established at Nyayo House fifth floor, where any matter pertaining to the Market can be reported.
“The business people and the Gikomba community can take advantage of the report desk by assisting the Government to collect sufficient intelligence so as to name the culprits responsible for causing these fires. We don’t believe these are natural fires.
To get in touch, contact the call center on 0728906554.” Dr. Kibicho admonished the arsonists. He said that the Government will not be cowed by the perpetrators and that the land in question will remain public and will never be converted for private use.
The PS said that the Government will integrate measures aimed at providing a permanent solution to the perennial arson problem.
“We shall build a perimeter wall around the new market building that is coming up. The other wall will be built around the general Gikomba Market.
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development will ensure that within three months, we shall have built the wall. The funds are available and the engineers will be deployed immediately. The walls will help isolate the areas in case there is a fire so that it doesn’t spread like we have seen today.”
To ensure security prevails Dr. Kibicho assured the residents that the National Police Service (NPS), the NMS and Safaricom PLC will work together to install high mast CCTV cameras for real-time surveillance.
