NAIROBI, Kenya — Traders at Gikomba Market are counting heavy losses after a section of the bustling trading hub was demolished overnight following the expiry of an eviction notice.
The operation, carried out on the night of March 30 into the early hours of March 31, targeted the market’s shoe section, with bulldozers flattening stalls and leaving merchandise scattered across the site.
Overnight demolition
According to reports, the demolition was conducted by county authorities under tight security, catching many traders off guard despite prior warnings to vacate the area.
Photos and videos from the scene showed traders sifting through debris in an attempt to salvage goods, highlighting the scale of destruction in one of Nairobi’s busiest informal markets.
Officials maintained that the exercise followed due process, noting that a formal eviction notice had been issued earlier to traders operating in the affected section.
Linked to riparian land crackdown
The demolished structures were reportedly built on riparian land along a river reserve, making them part of a wider government crackdown on illegal encroachment.
The enforcement drive has gained urgency in recent months following deadly floods that exposed the dangers of settlements and businesses located along waterways.
Authorities argue that clearing such structures is necessary to restore drainage systems and reduce the risk of future disasters in the capital.
Political backlash and human impact
The demolition has sparked outrage among leaders and traders, with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino condemning the move as a betrayal of small-scale traders.
Many affected traders say they lost their livelihoods overnight, with some insisting they had invested heavily in their businesses and were not given sufficient time or alternatives to relocate.
The development comes despite earlier legal battles over the planned demolitions, underscoring the ongoing tension between urban planning enforcement and the protection of informal livelihoods.
As authorities signal that similar operations could continue, the fate of thousands of traders operating along Nairobi’s waterways remains uncertain.
