Traders count huge losses after fire guts shops in Homa Bay Town

A section of traders in Homa Bay town are counting heavy losses after a night fire destroyed merchandise worth an estimated Sh8 million in four shops along Garage Road. The blaze, which witnesses attributed to an electrical fault, broke out shortly after electricity was restored following a four-hour blackout. The affected shops were located on the ground floor of the building, which remained structurally intact. Elizabeth Akoth, one of the traders, said she received a distress call informing her that her shop was on fire. “I rushed to the scene and found my shop burning. I was told the fire sparked immediately electricity was restored,” she said. Boniface Owino, who operates an eye clinic in the building, said he lost all his equipment, spectacles, furniture, and other items. “This is a serious loss. Personally, I have lost property worth more than Sh2 million. The approximate value of property lost in this incident is Sh8 million,” he said. Owino criticized the delayed response by county firefighters, saying traders were left to watch their businesses burn. He urged Kenya Power to take greater precautions to prevent similar incidents. Tabitha Owili appealed for humanitarian support from the county government and well-wishers to come to their aid because the businesses are closed. The affected traders also called on the Homa Bay County Government to strengthen and equip its fire department to ensure faster response to emergencies.