Two Dead as Fire-Weakened Building Collapses at Gikomba Market During Demolition

A building in the Block B section of Gikomba Market collapsed on the evening of Thursday, June 25. The incident occurred while a group of young men were inside collecting scrap metal and dismantling parts of the weakened structure.

Two people have been confirmed dead. Several others were trapped beneath the rubble during the incident. Rescue operations continued through the night under floodlights.

The collapse happened in a section already severely damaged by a massive fire that swept through Gikomba Market last Sunday. That blaze destroyed nearly 90 percent of the stalls and left significant structural weaknesses.

Witnesses said the young men were working to clear debris from the compromised Block B when the building gave way. Emergency responders including the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, Kenya Red Cross first responders and National Police Service were quickly deployed.

Search and rescue teams worked through the night to reach those trapped. The Kenya Red Cross later confirmed that the overnight operation had been successfully concluded through joint efforts with the fire brigade and police.

The humanitarian agency stated it remains ready to provide psychosocial support to affected families through the appropriate channels. Traders and residents gathered at the scene as recovery work progressed.

Gikomba Market, one of Kenya’s largest open-air trading centres, has experienced repeated fires and safety incidents in recent years. Traders have frequently called for greater county government intervention to address recurring risks.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan described the latest incident as another painful reminder of the ongoing vulnerability and neglect facing traders and young people in the market. He extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Material scavenging remains a significant risk during demolitions across Kenya. Limited supervision on sites has contributed to other similar incidents already reported this year.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released. Nairobi County government and police have not issued further detailed updates on the cause or full circumstances of the collapse.

The previous fire on Sunday caused millions of shillings in losses and left sections of the market in a precarious state. The latest tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about structural integrity in fire-affected areas during clearance and demolition work.

Rescue footage showed emergency teams coordinating efforts amid piles of broken concrete and twisted metal. Operations concluded with the retrieval of those trapped, bringing an end to the immediate search phase.

The incident adds to a series of safety challenges at Gikomba. It comes at a time when traders are still recovering from the widespread destruction caused by the recent fire.