Gikomba open-air market traders have filed a fresh petition against the Nairobi County Government, seeking to prevent their eviction and halt any development on the disputed property. The traders argue that they face substantial loss and damages due to the county’s unprocedural actions, which threaten their sole source of livelihood.
According to court documents, the traders, led by John Kimani Gathitu, claim they have operated at the market for over 40 years under the authority of the Nairobi County Government. They have condemned the alleged nighttime eviction as illegal, arguing that demolitions are legally required to be conducted during the day and on weekdays.
“That the officers swiftly and ruthlessly carried out the operations leading to destructions and loss of property. By the midnight of 15th April 2024 bulldozers had arrived and trading stalls and shacks demolished without any reasonable cause by Nairobi County Government,” the court papers state.
The traders are seeking court intervention to bar the County of Nairobi from evicting them and to suspend any ongoing development on the site. They claim that an illegal temporary fence erected by the county has prevented them from accessing their property and personal effects.
The Nairobi County Government has justified the eviction, stating the land is reserved for market development and that the county plans to construct a fire station on the site. However, the traders, represented by lawyer Danstan Omari, contend that the county had engaged in negotiations to find an alternative space for their businesses, which has not yet materialized.
The traders argue that the eviction has caused immense suffering and damage to their families, as their stalls and kiosks have been demolished and their property destroyed. They are seeking legal protection to ensure their ability to continue their businesses without further interference.
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