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Gikomba traders count losses as government demolishes structures

By Abdirahman Khalif | 03 May 2024

The traders are angry with the government, accusing it of inadequate communication and a lack of options.

In a devastating blow to Gikomba traders, over 500 firms were left without a place to function after the authorities demolished their premises on Friday morning.

The crackdown, enforced to impose a 30-meter buffer zone along riverbanks to reduce flood risks, has left dealers reeling from significant financial losses.

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Rafael Mbuvi, a father of three, expressed anguish after his investment failed.

Rafael, who borrowed half a million Kenyan shillings to build his projects, is unsure whether he can pay his debts.

"They have destroyed my business this morning, how will I repay the loan?" he lamented desperately.

Mama Mwaniki shares Rafael's plight, finding her livelihood demolished without warning.

Sitting atop a sack containing her rescued products, she expressed her uncertainty and fury, asking where she was supposed to go now that her business had been destroyed.

"They demolished my structure; where do they expect me to go? She asked.

The traders are angry with the government, accusing it of inadequate communication and a lack of options.

Nicodemus Mwabebe Sokoro, the Assistant Chairman of Gikomba's Shoe Market, denounced the demolitions, pointing out that the area is largely a business hub where people commute and come home at night.

"This is a business area, everyone goes home at night, there is no reason to tell them to move or destroy their structures," Mwabebe, the mayor, stated.

The ripple effects of the demolitions extend beyond the traders themselves.

Youth like Nicholas Mwangi, who relied on assisting the traders for income, now find themselves without work.

Nicholas expressed his dismay at the sudden loss of his livelihood, illustrating the broader economic impact of the government's actions.

"I had nothing to do today meaning I have lost my source of income," said Mwangi.

As the affected traders grapple with the aftermath of the demolitions, calls for government intervention grow louder. They urged authorities to provide adequate notice and alternatives and consider the livelihoods of those indirectly impacted, such as the supporting youth workforce.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a directive on Thursday to remove illegally constructed structures and buildings situated along riparian land adjacent to rivers in Nairobi.

The directive applies to all individuals residing within a 30-meter radius of the Ngong, Mathare, and Nairobi rivers.

Kindiki instructed the Nairobi Regional and County Security Teams to collaborate with the Nairobi City County Government and the National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) to evacuate those residing along the riverbanks promptly.