- Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has pledged bursaries for children of traders affected by the Mitumba Market fire.
- The county will also provide recovery support to help traders rebuild their businesses.
- Security agencies have been urged to investigate the suspected arson and bring those responsible to justice.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has pledged bursary support for children whose parents lost their livelihoods in the devastating Mitumba Market fire, assuring affected families that learners will not be forced to stay out of school.
The Governor made the announcement during a visit to the market on Monday, a day after the inferno destroyed businesses belonging to hundreds of traders, leaving many counting losses worth millions of shillings.
Several parents appealed for education support after losing their sources of income in the fire.
Responding to the appeals, Governor Wavinya announced that bursary cheques would be issued on Wednesday to ensure affected learners return to school without interruption.
“I am personally donating KSh1 million to support the victims. This is my personal contribution and not County Government funding. Children whose parents have suffered losses will receive bursary cheques on Wednesday to enable them to continue with their education,” she said.
Recovery package
The Governor also announced that 256 affected traders would each receive goods worth KSh50,000 through the County Emergency Fund to help them restart their businesses.
She further confirmed that reconstruction of the market would begin immediately.
Parents expressed concern over the devastating impact of the fire on their families.
“We have lost everything. Our goods were destroyed while others were stolen. This business was our only source of income to educate our children and support our families. Some of us had even taken loans to stock our businesses,” said trader Esther Singi.
Market Secretary Antony Musyimi and Mitumba Market Chairperson Josephine also appealed for urgent government intervention to help affected traders recover.
Call for investigations
Governor Wavinya urged leaders to focus on practical solutions rather than political rhetoric while calling on security agencies to expedite investigations into the suspected arson.
“I urge our security agencies to move swiftly and arrest those responsible. Those behind this criminal act must be brought to justice, just as suspects have been arrested in previous school arson cases,” she said.
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The Governor assured traders that the county government would continue supporting recovery efforts while working with relevant agencies to restore normal business operations at the market.
By Stephen Muthini
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