Ruto defends Gikomba demolitions as multi-billion shillings upgrade begins

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto attend a Maendeleo ya Wanawake women's empowerment meeting at State House, Nairobi, on April 1, 2026. [PCS]

President William Ruto has pushed back against criticism over the eviction of traders from Gikomba Market ahead of a planned multi-billion-shilling modernisation programme.

Speaking at a Maendeleo ya Wanawake women's empowerment meeting at State House, Nairobi, Ruto faulted opponents for politicising the process, warning that claims of ethnic profiling risked derailing a long-overdue upgrade.

He said the project would follow the model used for 500 other markets constructed nationwide under the government's flagship Affordable Housing Project (AHP).

"The first phase of the project began yesterday — a linear market with a capacity of 5,000 traders at a cost of Sh800 million. Sh3 billion will go into further development and another Sh5 billion will be spent on the main market," President Ruto said.

"Some people are politicising this issue, going to the extent of alleging that a certain community is being targeted. I'm asking them to stop," he added.

President William Ruto: Watu wa Nairobi walikuja kuniona hapa. Wafanyibiashara, viongozi wa hapa Gikomba walinitembelea hapa. Mimi nikawaeleza, katika mpango wetu wa kupanga soko Kenya, hatutaki kusahau Nairobi. Wakaniambia wenyewe ya kwamba tunataka soko yetu ya Gikomba, kwa… pic.twitter.com/BCDoZnHRqt — KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) April 1, 2026

The government faced a public backlash on Tuesday after traders arrived to find their stalls demolished. 

The affected structures stood within 60 metres on either side of the Nairobi River, in an area designated as riparian land earmarked for regeneration.

Opposition leaders — including Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua — rejected the move, questioning the timing of the overnight operation, the losses incurred by traders, and allegations of ethnic targeting for political ends.

"I condemn this inhumane and beastly treatment in the strongest terms possible," Gachagua said.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who visited the site, faulted the government for proceeding with the demolitions despite a High Court order halting the exercise.

A section of traders, however, confirmed receiving advance eviction notices and were directed to alternative spaces to make way for the phased project.

Mugo Kibathi, chairman of the Gikomba Market traders, told a local media station on Tuesday night that they had lobbied the government to support the construction, citing longstanding challenges with access, sanitation, and frequent fires.

"We were given a 30-day notice. The first 14 days elapsed and we requested a two-week extension, which was granted. The relocation was to happen by March 30, but some traders ignored it even though we had agreed," he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Boniface Muigai, the chairperson of the demolished shoe market section, in a widely circulated video shared through government-linked accounts across social media platforms.

Many traders remained anxious about their chances of securing space when the new stalls are allocated.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the upgrade was necessary, describing the market as having become "dysfunctional."