Mombasa politician Shahbal to assist Kongowea traders regain businesses

By Tobby Otum

A fire gutted 400 stalls at the famous Kongowea mitumba section in Mombasa county.

Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal said he stood in solidarity with the mitumba traders who were affected by the fire at the famous market.

He said he spoke as a businessman himself who understood what it felt like to lose a source of income in such a manner.

“I know what it feels like when a person loses a source of his livelihood in such mysterious circumstances especially during these hard economic times following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he pointed out.

Shahbal, who had just jetted back into the country from an overseas trip, said he is saddened that there was no fire station near such a famous facility to deal with such incidents.

He was speaking to journalists when he visited the traders who lost their stalls and goods during the inferno at the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

The Mombasa businessman said he plans to ensure a fire station was built near the market to deal with such incidents.

Shahbal assured the affected traders he stands with them and will assist them by conducting a funds drive to help them get back on their feet.

“I will hold an impromptu funds drive to help the affected traders rebuild their stalls so that they can resume their business,” he said.

The Mombasa businessman acknowledged it would not be easy to ensure the traders recover their lost goods but added that his efforts would be a bold step in assisting them.

But a section of the affected traders accused the Mombasa county of allegedly planning to evict them with the fire being an excuse to do so.

They argued it was not the first time such an incident has taken place leading to the loss of goods worth millions of shillings.

“The move is a foul play to evict us from the parcel of land,” they alleged.

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