Two victims of Gikomba Market fire Identified amid investigations

Authorities have identified the two people who died in the fire that swept through Gikomba Market in Nairobi on Sunday.

This came as government officials visited the scene to assess the destruction and reassure affected traders.

The Nairobi East Sub-Region Security Committee, led by the Nairobi County Commissioner, toured the market following the morning blaze to evaluate the extent of the damage.

During the visit, officials assured traders of the government’s commitment to supporting those affected by the fire.

Police said the two victims who succumbed during the incident have been identified by their relatives as Joseph Buret Mwangi and Florence Anguya.

Security has since been reinforced at the market, with police officers deployed to maintain order. Authorities said the situation is currently calm as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Traders lost property valued at millions of shillings. They suspect the fire was caused intentionally.

Meanwhile, police in Embu County are investigating the sudden death of a 37-year-old man who was found unresponsive in his rented house after reportedly using a charcoal stove indoors.

The incident was reported to Embu Police Station on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Police officers visited the scene at the Old Stadium area in Municipality East Sub-location, on the outskirts of Embu Town, where they found the body of Evans Opondo, 37, lying on a mattress with no visible external injuries.

His roommate told investigators that the two had retired for the night after Evans lit a charcoal stove to prepare supper. The roommate said he was feeling sleepy and the two agreed that Evans would wake him once the meal was ready.

However, the roommate said he woke up the following morning to find his roommate unresponsive.

Crime scene investigators processed and documented the scene before the body was moved to Embu Level Five Hospital Mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. While the cause has not yet been established, the reported use of a charcoal stove inside the house will form part of the investigations, with the post-mortem expected to determine the exact cause of death.