Traders operating at Uhuru Market along Jogoo Road in Nairobi are counting heavy losses after government officers reportedly demolished their business structures in a late-night operation, leaving many scrambling to salvage whatever remained of their livelihoods.
Photos circulating online on Monday morning showed devastated traders picking through piles of rubble, broken iron sheets, and scattered goods in a desperate attempt to recover items that survived the demolition.
The traders claim the operation happened at night, catching many of them off guard.
Political activist Alinur Mohammed criticized the move, questioning the government’s commitment to promises made during the 2022 election campaigns.
In a statement shared on social media, Alinur pointed out that leaders had assured Kenyans that forced evictions would not occur without prior notice and a clear settlement plan.
He specifically referenced commitments made by William Ruto and Johnson Sakaja during the campaign period, where they pledged to protect small traders and informal businesses from abrupt demolitions.
“In 2022 Sakaja and Ruto promised no one will be forcefully evicted without a notice and a settlement plan. What happened?” Alinur posed, echoing the concerns of many traders affected by the operation.
Uhuru Market, located along the busy Jogoo Road corridor, hosts hundreds of small-scale traders who depend on daily sales to support their families.
Many of them now say they have been left stranded, with their businesses destroyed and no clear communication from authorities about alternative trading spaces.
Some traders alleged that they had not received any official notice prior to the demolition, while others said they were only alerted when bulldozers and enforcement officers arrived during the night.
The incident has sparked debate on social media, with critics accusing the county and national governments of failing to honor their pledges to protect informal sector workers.
Affected traders are now calling on the Nairobi City County Government to explain the circumstances surrounding the demolition and to provide a clear plan for relocation or compensation.
The demolition comes amid increasing tensions between authorities and informal traders in Nairobi, raising fresh questions about how urban development projects are being implemented and whether adequate safeguards exist to protect vulnerable business owners.
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