BY RITA MUTHONI
Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has called on police to urgently investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed businesses worth millions of shillings at Shauri Market on Monday night.
Speaking while touring the burnt site, Mukunji said the incident was worrying and pointed to a growing trend of market fires across the country, stressing the need for a thorough investigation to establish the truth and address public concern.
“These fires are becoming too common, and this one must be properly investigated so that the public can know what really happened,” he said.
The MP noted that speculation had already begun to emerge and warned against relying on rumours, insisting that only a detailed probe would clear the air.
Mukunji also criticised Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku for what he termed as a slow response to traders affected by the fire, urging him to intervene and support the victims to rebuild their businesses.
“If support does not come in time, many families risk losing their only source of income,” he said.
The legislator further assured Shauri residents that he would write to the Ministry of Housing to consider issuing title deeds to traders operating in the area to protect them from possible displacement.
He also faulted the Embu County Government over what he described as inadequate disaster preparedness, calling for improved emergency response mechanisms to minimise losses from similar incidents in the future.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established, as affected traders continue to count losses running into millions of shillings.
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