Business men and women are counting loses at Lugulu market in Mihuu ward, Webuye East Constituency after unknown fire razed down their stalls at night.
Addressing the media at the market, they said they have lost their property worthy eight thousand Kenya shilling for they saved nothing after the efforts of bodaboda riders and some youths to put if off were futile.
They said the fire began around mid night and it was hard to be contained since the weather was windy saying the fire brigade arrived late after everything was consumed.
They have urged leaders to support them since whatever was consumed by fire was their only source of their income therefore would not manage to pay bills and school fees for their children.
Lugulu market chairman Mr. Benard Kimokoti said that was not the first time the fire had burned down stalls on the market, he asked the government to speed up investigation and establish the cause of the late night fire.
However, he also appealed to the governments both County and national to come in and support those who were affected, by building new stalls for them and also giving them capital to start again their business which has been the only source of livelihood that many families had depended on.
He also called on the Bungoma County government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry to allocate space and build a market for them as they run their businesses along the road which is not only dangerous but the environment is also detrimental adding that they pay tax every Friday which is their market day but have never gotten value for their money including lacking clean water and pit latrines.
On their part, County officers in revenue department in the ward Elizabeth Wanjala who is Mihuu ward revenue supervisor and Lugulu market revenue officer James Barasa urged victims to be patient as investigation will be done to establish the cause of the night inferno so that appropriate measures can be undertaken by the County government.
Mrs.Wanjala ruled out electricity faulty as the cause of the fire as no stall is connected with power and cautioned business community to be careful as some of the stalls affected were eateries and maybe some left without putting off the fire they used to cook.