Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti addressing traders at the Mitumba Market in Machakos. Photo Courtesy 
By Gov's Press.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has called on security agencies to expedite investigations and arrest those responsible for the fire that razed the Machakos Mitumba Market on Friday night, leaving 226 traders counting losses worth millions of shillings.
Speaking after touring the market to assess the extent of the damage, the Governor alleged—without providing evidence—that the inferno was the work of arsonists acting on behalf of her political opponents.
"If they think they are scaring me by burning the market and doing such things, then this is politics. Some people want to benefit by securing a tender to rebuild the market. If the agenda was to gain access to the market, they must know that the market has its owner. Those seeking votes should do so without hurting innocent people," she said.
Wavinya urged law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations and bring those responsible to justice.
"I am asking the security agencies to get down to work and arrest those criminals. They should produce all the individuals who burnt the market just as they arrested suspects linked to the recent school arson incidents," she said.
The Governor also announced a relief package for the affected traders, including a personal donation of Sh1 million to be shared among the victims.
In addition, she pledged that her administration would support families whose livelihoods were affected by the blaze by clearing outstanding school fee balances for their children through county bursaries.
"Those traders whose children have outstanding school fee balances will receive bursary cheques by Wednesday," she said.
To help traders rebuild their businesses, Wavinya further announced that each of the 226 affected traders would receive start-up stock worth Sh50,000.
The fire, which broke out on Friday night, reduced the bustling second-hand clothes market to ashes, destroying merchandise and leaving hundreds of traders facing an uncertain future as investigations into the cause of the blaze continue.If you'd like, I can also make it read in the style of the Daily Nation, The Standard, or The Star.
