NAIROBI, Kenya (IP)
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has cautioned opposition leaders against politicising the ongoing demolitions at Gikomba Market, saying the exercise is aimed at improving safety and modernising the trading hub.
Kindiki said some politicians were misleading traders by urging them to resist the evictions, despite repeated disasters at the market, including fires and flooding that have destroyed property and disrupted livelihoods.
He urged traders to cooperate with authorities, assuring them the government is working on a structured relocation plan that will see them moved into improved facilities.
The deputy president said thousands of traders stand to benefit from the redevelopment, which is part of a broader government push to upgrade informal markets and enhance urban infrastructure in Nairobi.
The demolitions, carried out under tight security, targeted structures built on riparian land and key drainage corridors, according to officials.
The move has, however, sparked protests and drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who argue the evictions were abrupt and lacked proper consultation.
Some opposition figures led by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have accused the government of disregarding due process and failing to provide adequate notice.
They raised concerns over the impact on small-scale traders who rely on the market for daily income.
President William Ruto has defended the operation, describing it as part of a long-term plan to transform Gikomba into a modern trading space with improved infrastructure and safer working conditions.
Kindiki maintained that the redevelopment is necessary to safeguard traders’ futures, warning that political interference could slow down progress and delay the delivery of the new market.
