Transport along Nairobi’s bustling Jogoo Road came to a standstill as traders from Uhuru Market took to the streets in a fiery protest against the planned demolition of their stalls.
The demonstrations, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, March 18, saw enraged traders block a section of the highway and light bonfires, demanding answers from authorities.
Traders, many of whom have operated in the market for years, expressed outrage over what they describe as a lack of prior notice and consultation regarding the demolition.
Videos and images captured thick plumes of smoke rising from burning tires and debris near the Likoni Road junction.
“We are not against development, but they cannot just come and destroy our livelihoods without warning. We deserve respect and a chance to plan for our families,” one of the traders expressed.
Motorists using the route were forced to either reroute to Outering Road and access Nairobi’s central business district via Juja Road or use feeder roads within the adjacent estates to reach town, as traffic jams built up on alternative roads.
At the time of publishing, the National Police Service (NPS) had not issued a response, and officers were yet to be deployed to quell the protests.
This is not the first time traders have protested against the planned demolitions at the market. In 2021, the matter reached the corridors of justice after traders moved to court to halt the process.
The traders received a temporary reprieve in 2021 after a Milimani court issued orders stopping a private developer from evicting them.
The ruling prevented any eviction from the land until the hearing and determination of their application were concluded.
At the time, traders at the market faced eviction and demolition of their stalls by a private developer who claimed ownership of the land.
