Emotional moment as Ruiru traders shed tears after arson attack
By Oliver Musembi, February 9, 2026More than 100 small scale traders in Ruiru, Kiambu County are counting huge losses after a fire razed down their stalls on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
The traders are now pointing accusing fingers at area Member of Parliament Simon King’ara, claiming his office employees were seen at the scene moments before the fire broke out.
They also alleged that a few days earlier,
the MP had told them to vacate the area and give room for a gate and parking space saying there were plans to put up a Huduma Center in the area.
King’ara, however, could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
Narrating their ordeal to journalists, some of the victims broke down in tears while recounting the losses they incurred as a result of the inferno.
Njoroge Kahia, speaking amid sobs, explained how goods valued Sh 400,000 went up in flames at his stall even as he was servicing a loan he had taken recently.
“I have lost everything…all the money I had invested in the business after taking a loan to boost it. I am completely broken,” lamented Kahia who has been operating at the premises for over 30 years.
The traders claimed that the legislator had a week earlier told them to remove their stalls promising to help them relocate, only to wake up on Sunday morning to find their businesses reduced to ashes.
“I was relying on my small clothes shop to feed and educate my children. Now I am left with no source of income,” said Damaris Githaka who lost goods worth over Sh 200,000.
Damaris who has been running her shop at the area for more than a decade said she doesn’t know where to get money to pay fees for her two school going children.
However, the traders vowed not to vacate the area as they appealed for assistance from Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s administration to rebuild their businesses.
According to watchmen guarding the premises, a group comprising workers at the MP’s NG-CDF office arrived around midnight and chased them away before torching the stalls.
Elijah Shongo, a watchman on duty, narrated how a group of men arrived in motor bikes and a vehicle after midnight and roughed him up.
He said they later set the place ablaze, ignoring his pleas to allow him to call the stall owners or have the merchandise removed .
Area Member of the County Assembly Kimani wa Nduta condemned the incident and said the county government will help the traders to rebuild their destroyed structures.
He said the area where the stalls are located is under the regional government and wondered why the MP was interfering with the traders.