NAIROBI, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday called for swift and thorough investigations to establish the cause of the fire that destroyed Nairobi's biggest open air market, Gikomba.
Kenyatta said in a statement warned that stern action would be taken against anyone found to be behind the incident suspected to have been started by business rivals.
"Security agencies should move with speed to investigate the cause of the fire, and those believed to be behind the criminal act should face the full force of the law," he warned.
The inferno that lasted hours destroyed property worth millions of dollars while disrupting livelihoods of small scale traders who eke out a living from selling second hand clothes, groceries and electronic gadgets in the market.
No casualties have been reported in the Gikomba fire whose cause is still unknown. Some traders managed to salvage their goods but a huge part of property stored at the market has been consumed by the fire.
Gikomba is one of the biggest open-air markets in the region, with most traders dealing in clothing and foodstuff.
Kenyatta said the government stands with all the traders who lost property because of the fire. He said the market will be rebuilt so that traders can start their business as soon as possible.
"The government will stand with the affected traders by building the market to enable them continue with their business," Kenyatta said.
