This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On Friday night, bulldozers arrived at Gikomba market, forcing residents to vacate the area immediately. The demolition affected over 1,000 families who called the market their home.
Traders at the market are also counting losses after their stalls were demolished in the operation. The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) plans to build new long-lasting buildings and structures in the area.
According to Kamukunji deputy commissioner Moses K-rilan, the demolitions were government-sanctioned and aimed at structures that are dilapidated to prevent their collapse. The deputy commissioner stated that the NMS plans to build new structures that are not prone to collapse.
On Thursday night, an inferno razed down goods of unknown value at the market, leaving traders counting losses. Interior Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho said the government is investigating the incident to identify individuals believed to be behind the recurrent burning down of property at the Gikomba market.
PS Kibicho warned that the government believes the fires are not natural and has set up a desk at the fifth floor of Nyayo House to probe all information and leads that could unmask the cartels behind the fires.
“Unfortunately, there are people who believe that when the business people using this space are evacuated, they will have an opportunity to use this land for private use,” the Interior PS said.
“Gikomba is public land and it shall be used for public purposes even after we relocate the traders who are to here to the markets we are building,” he added.
