Gikomba Traders Face Fresh Challenges After Moving to New Stalls
Traders at Gikomba Market are raising concerns over the high cost of doing business in the new spaces assigned to them after their recent relocation by the government. Many say the new charges are making it difficult for them to continue operating smoothly.
Out of the more than 6,000 traders who were moved to pave way for the construction of a modern market, about 2,000 have complained that the new fees are too expensive and are affecting their businesses.
According to the traders, they are being asked to pay KSh5,000 to acquire small stalls in the new market area. On top of that, they are also required to pay close to KSh1,000 for security services, which many feel is an added burden.
Several traders say the new costs are beyond what they can afford, forcing them to look for cheaper places nearby where they can continue selling their goods without so much pressure.
As a result, the demand for space in neighbouring areas has gone up sharply. Some private landowners have reportedly taken advantage of the situation by demolishing old buildings and turning the land into makeshift stalls for traders seeking affordable alternatives.
Many traders believe these privately managed spaces are safer, less stressful, and more affordable compared to the government-assigned stalls.
The relocation happened after the Nairobi County Government issued an eviction notice to traders who had been operating on land near the Nairobi River. On March 30, county officials demolished part of the market to clear the riparian land, an area said to make up nearly 80 percent of the market.
Traders have also complained about additional regular charges collected twice every week, apart from the initial payments they were asked to make.
One trader said that market fees are currently being collected every Monday and Thursday, making it harder for small business owners to keep up with the constant payments.
Market officials, however, defended the charges, saying the money is used to provide essential services such as electricity, cleaning, and security within the market.
At the same time, the county government warned traders not to deal with people falsely claiming ownership of public land or demanding illegal payments from them.
Officials reassured traders that genuine business owners would not lose their spaces and asked them not to give money to unauthorized individuals. They added that the process of allocating stalls will be conducted fairly and transparently.
Jane Wangui said traders should remain calm and avoid paying anyone pretending to be a landlord without legal ownership of the land. She emphasized that no genuine trader would be unfairly removed from the market.
Join TUKO KADI Official WhatsApp Channel to stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
