The Environment and Land Court has temporarily stopped the planned demolition of Gikomba Market, dealing a setback to Nairobi County’s redevelopment plans.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Lady Justice Lillian Kimani ordered the county government to immediately halt any demolition activities until a petition challenging the exercise is heard and determined. The case was filed under a certificate of urgency by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino alongside other applicants.
“The Court has considered the Notice of Motion dated 3rd March 2026 filed by the Petitioner under a Certificate of Urgency. Upon consideration, the Court is satisfied that the issues raised therein are urgent but are best determined upon hearing the parties inter partes,” Justice Kimani ruled.
She further directed that the current status quo on the suit land be maintained, effectively pausing any planned destruction of stalls within the busy open-air market.
Gikomba traders have for years faced uncertainty over their operations, with repeated threats of eviction and demolition following claims that some structures were erected on riparian land. The latest move had sparked anxiety among thousands of small-scale traders who depend on the market for their daily livelihoods.
Reacting to the ruling, Babu Owino welcomed the court’s decision, stating that protecting livelihoods must take precedence over abrupt demolitions. He said his legal team moved to court to safeguard the interests of traders and ensure due process is followed.
“Gikomba is not just a marketplace. It is the heartbeat of thousands of families, small traders, and hardworking Kenyans who depend on it every single day,” the MP said in a statement. He urged all parties to respect the court order and allow the legal process to proceed without interference.
Gikomba Market remains one of Nairobi’s largest trading hubs, dealing mainly in second-hand clothes, household goods, and hardware supplies. The informal sector market supports hundreds of traders directly and many more indirectly through supply chains and casual labour.
The planned demolitions stem from an earlier directive issued in May 2024 by the Interior Ministry ordering the removal of structures built unlawfully along riparian reserves within Nairobi.
With the court’s intervention, traders now have temporary relief as the legal battle unfolds. The matter will be heard inter partes, where both sides will present their arguments before a final determination is made.
