Traders at Uhuru Market, located on Jogoo Road woke up on Monday morning to find their stalls demolished despite a court case
The demolition was preceded by a 72-hour eviction notice from the Nairobi City County Government on the 4th of March, ordering the traders to vacate the market for development.
Prior to this, on the 6th of March, the government claimed that they were ignoring a court order that suspended the demolition of the Uhuru Market. The government stated that this had led to demonstrations along Jogoo Road, with police firing tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
This is not the first time the Uhuru Market stalls have been interfered with, even as a fire destroyed a furniture market located nearby. The stalls have been a victim of land disputes, with the government planning to develop affordable houses.
The market is located near a 400-acre plot that was recently cleared of residential buildings for the development of government housing projects. The traders claim that the market was protected from demolition since they had been paying the land rates for years.
The traders are now worried about their next move. The market space in Nairobi is scarce, and thousands of small businesses are fighting for the little space available.
Some claim that the demolition was not justified since the case involving the ownership of the market was still pending in court. The small businesses are being pushed aside for the big ones, the traders claim.
Other regions that have experienced the same treatment include Githurai and Roysambu, located along Thika Road. The traders at these locations were evicted from the market for the construction of the new bus parks.
The traders claim that the demolition was conducted despite the warning from President William Ruto that the evictions must include the development of plans that will protect the families who depend on the businesses.
