MP Mukunji calls for urgent compensation of traders affected by Gikomba demolitions
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, April 1, 2026Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has condemned the demolition of parts of Gikomba Market, terming the exercise unlawful and a violation of traders’ rights, and urging the government to compensate the traders who are now counting losses after the demolition of their structures.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Mukunji said that the market is represented by the people who work in the demolished structures and not the facilities demolished. The lawmaker has further criticised the government’s handling of the operation, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of disregarding the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
“Soko sio mawe, simiti; soko ni wale watu wanafanya kazi pale…Nataka kuambia serikali, first order of business ni mtu yoyote ambaye kibanda yake imebomolewa, pay them first before mjenge mseme mnajenga soko mpya,” Mukunji said.
Gikomba Demolitions
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.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had earlier ordered the removal of illegal structures along riverbanks as part of a broader flood mitigation plan. The directive followed the submission of a 48-hour action report by the county’s infrastructure subcommittee.
Speaking during an inspection exercise in Westlands on March 19, 2026, 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,” Sakaja 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.
The demolition has sparked debate over the balance between urban planning enforcement and the protection of livelihoods, particularly in informal trading hubs that support thousands of families.
Government defends demolitions
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the government maintained that its motivation is not just to modernise the market but also to reclaim riparian land in a bid to create a safer, more organised trading environment and address perennial risks that have plagued the area.
Further, the government allayed fears that the demolitions would lead to massive job losses.