Gikomba Traders Cry Out Over Unbearable Costs At New Stalls After Forced Relocation

Traders at Gikomba Market are up in arms over the steep charges being imposed on them at the new trading spaces allocated by the government following their relocation from riparian land along the Nairobi River. 

Around 2,000 of the more than 6,000 displaced traders say the fees are making it nearly impossible to run their businesses.

The traders are required to pay Ksh5,000 to secure a small stall at the new space and an additional Ksh1,000 for security. 

On top of that they are expected to pay routine fees collected twice every week every Monday and Thursday. 

Many say these combined costs have made the new stalls completely unaffordable.

Several traders have already abandoned the government-allocated spaces and moved to privately owned areas nearby where costs are lower.

The shift has increased demand for trading space in surrounding areas pushing some private landowners to demolish existing structures and convert them into informal market stalls. 

Traders say these private spaces feel safer and more affordable despite lacking official backing.

The relocation followed an eviction notice issued by Nairobi County government targeting traders who had set up businesses on riparian land.

On March 30 the county demolished a large section of the market along Nairobi River which reportedly accounted for about 80 percent of the entire market. 

The demolition displaced thousands of traders who had operated there for years.

Market management has defended the charges saying they cover essential services including electricity cleaning and security at the new facility. 

Officials insist the fees are necessary to maintain the new trading environment and keep it functional for everyone operating there.

However the county government has stepped in to caution traders against paying money to individuals illegally claiming ownership of public land. 

Officials urged traders not to pay any unauthorised fees assuring them that legitimate business owners would not be displaced and that stall allocation would follow a transparent verification process.

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Markets and Trade Jane Wangui told traders not to worry and not to give out money to anyone claiming to be a landlord without proof of ownership. 

She said there had been confusion with people falsely claiming they were being displaced from land they do not own.

The situation at Gikomba remains tense as traders caught between government charges and unofficial operators continue to struggle to keep their livelihoods afloat.