Opposition leaders have strongly condemned the recent demolition of structures at Gikomba Market in Nairobi, terming the exercise harsh and lacking sensitivity to the welfare of affected traders, while also raising fresh concerns over transparency in the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa and former Attorney General Justin Muturi, the leaders accused the government of handling the operation in a manner that disregards the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking in Wote, Makueni County, the leaders criticized the administration of President William Ruto, arguing that the demolitions were carried out without adequate consideration of the economic impact on traders who depend on Gikomba Market for their daily income.
The demolition exercise, conducted on the night of Monday, March 30, targeted structures within the shoe section of Gikomba Market. Bulldozers and excavators were deployed, flattening numerous stalls and leaving traders scrambling to salvage whatever remained of their merchandise.
Footage from the scene showed traders sifting through debris in distress, as they assessed the extent of their losses following the operation. Many of them reportedly lost stock worth significant amounts, leaving their businesses in jeopardy.
The opposition leaders maintained that while urban planning and environmental protection are necessary, such exercises must be conducted in a humane and well-coordinated manner that safeguards livelihoods. They argued that the government ought to have engaged traders adequately and provided alternative arrangements before the demolitions.
At the same time, the leaders renewed their criticism of the Social Health Authority (SHA), with Gachagua alleging possible financial irregularities in its rollout. He questioned reported expenditures, claiming inconsistencies between the estimated cost of setting up the system and the figures cited in public discussions.
He further made claims regarding alleged ownership links between certain government officials and companies associated with the SHA system and the eCitizen platform. The allegations, however, have not been independently verified, and the government has previously dismissed similar claims.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has defended the demolitions, noting that they form part of broader efforts to remove illegal structures along riparian land and mitigate flooding risks within the city.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino also weighed in, faulting the demolitions and describing them as a major setback for traders who lost their source of income overnight.
The developments have sparked renewed debate over the balance between enforcing urban planning regulations and protecting the live
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