Chaos Erupts at Gikomba Market as Snake Found in Trader’s Bag; Woman Threatens to Walk Naked if Anyone Touches It
Gikomba Market, one of Nairobi’s busiest trading hubs, was rocked by chaos and confusion yesterday after a live snake was discovered inside a second-hand clothes (mitumba) trader’s bag. The incident quickly escalated when the woman, a long-time trader at the market, threatened to strip naked if anyone dared touch the snake. Her bold declaration sent the crowd into a frenzy, but the revelation that followed left everyone in shock: claims surfaced that the woman had been using witchcraft to boost her business.
The drama began early in the morning as the market was bustling with customers. Witnesses say the woman opened her bag to retrieve items when a snake suddenly slithered out, sending nearby traders and shoppers scattering in fear. Instead of showing shock, the woman stood her ground, issuing an ominous warning to anyone approaching the snake, saying she would “walk naked right here” if they interfered.
The commotion brought business to a halt, as whispers circulated about the woman’s peculiar threat. Market security personnel and other traders hesitated to approach her, fearing her strange proclamation. Some onlookers began to speculate that there was more to the story than met the eye. “People were saying she had bewitched her stall, that the snake was protecting her business,” one of the traders shared. “No one wanted to test her warning.”
As rumors of witchcraft spread, a growing crowd of superstitious traders and customers began to murmur in concern. Stories circulated about the woman’s unusually high sales, with other traders recalling times they’d felt “something strange” near her stall. Fearing she might indeed be practicing dark arts, some traders backed away, while others voiced outrage, demanding that action be taken.
Local elders who were called to assess the situation confirmed that suspicions of witchcraft in the market were not unheard of. “We’ve seen it before in competitive markets, where some people resort to sorcery to gain customers,” said a Gikomba elder. “It’s disturbing that such practices are still happening.”
A snake handler was eventually called in to remove the reptile, drawing applause from the uneasy crowd. The snake was later identified as a harmless species and released safely away from the market. Meanwhile, market officials declared that the woman would no longer be allowed to trade in Gikomba, citing the disruption her presence caused.
The incident has since sparked conversations about the influence of traditional beliefs in modern business practices and the lengths to which some traders may go to gain an edge in Nairobi’s fiercely competitive market scene. The woman’s stall remained vacant for the rest of the day, with traders left unsettled and vowing to report any other suspicious practices they might witness.
The story has spread like wildfire, leaving a lasting impact on Gikomba’s superstitious community, who are now more vigilant than ever. As for the woman, her unusual practices may have cost her a place in Nairobi’s iconic marketplace, with a warning to others against using mysticism in business.