By Andrew Kariuki
Opposition leaders led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and former Attorney General Justin Muturi have condemned the demolition of structures at Nairobi’s Gikomba Market, terming the exercise inhumane.
Speaking to journalists in Wote, Makueni County, the leaders criticised the government’s handling of the operation, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of disregarding the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
The demolition, carried out on the night of Monday, March 30, 2026, flattened structures in the shoe section of Gikomba Market, leaving traders counting losses.
Footage from the scene showed bulldozers and excavators clearing the area, with traders later seen combing through debris in an attempt to salvage their goods.
The opposition leaders argued that the manner in which the exercise was conducted failed to take into account the welfare of affected traders, many of whom depend on the market as their primary source of income.
The demolitions followed an earlier eviction notice issued to traders operating within the affected section of Gikomba Market, with authorities indicating that the structures had encroached on riparian land.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had earlier ordered the removal of illegal structures along riverbanks as part of a broader flood mitigation plan, following a 48-hour action report by the county’s Infrastructure Subcommittee.
Speaking during an inspection exercise in Westlands on March 19, Sakaja said the operation was aimed at restoring blocked waterways and preventing flooding.
“The directive was clear: within 48 hours, we needed a concrete action plan to address flooding. I have received that report and implementation is now underway,” he said.
He added that the exercise would be sustained, warning that all structures built along waterways would be removed and urging occupants to vacate voluntarily.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino also criticised the demolitions, describing them as a major setback for traders.
“Traders at Gikomba lost their businesses, their stock and their only source of income overnight. This is not leadership. It’s betrayal,” he said.
The demolition has sparked debate over the balance between enforcement of urban planning regulations and the protection of livelihoods, particularly in informal trading hubs that support thousands of families.
