The government has released architectural designs for a state-of-the-art market at Gikomba, signaling a new era for one of East Africa’s largest trading hubs. This follows a major overnight demolition exercise on Monday, March 30, 2026, where authorities cleared structures near the Nairobi River after the expiration of a 30-day eviction notice.
President William Ruto confirmed a massive investment for the project, which aims to provide a permanent solution to the congestion and frequent fires that have plagued the area for decades.
“We are going to build a modern market. One that you have not seen. We must pay attention to the Gikomba market because it is a national market serving a national traders’ network around Kenya,” the president stated.
Sammy Gachengo a shoe trader in Gikomba market pic.twitter.com/A5PbyTZK7n
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 31, 2026
A Vision for Safe and Organized Trade
The newly released images depict a sophisticated multi-storey complex featuring organized stall layouts, designated parking, and spacious pedestrian walkways. To address environmental concerns, the Nairobi County Government cleared a 50-meter buffer zone – 30 meters dedicated to restoring riparian land to prevent flooding and 20 meters to accommodate the new market’s footprint.
The blueprint also includes:
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Modern Amenities: Open-plan trading spaces and bridges for easy customer access.
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Recreational Spaces: Renderings show a sports pitch near the river, suggesting a community-centered approach to urban design.
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Safety Infrastructure: Improved drainage and fire safety systems to protect traders’ livelihoods.
Part of a National Transformation
This redevelopment is a cornerstone of a larger government initiative to modernize 20 markets across the country. While the national government oversees 12 of these projects, county governments manage the remaining eight.
Despite the long-term benefits, the immediate transition has proven difficult for local entrepreneurs. Many traders arrived at the site early Tuesday to salvage what they could from the rubble, protesting the sudden nature of the demolition. Boniface Muigai, chairman of the Gikomba shoe market, confirmed that while the government relocated them to a holding area, the traders had to fund their own temporary stalls.
“The government has relocated traders to a holding area because Gikomba is being developed. The government had not accounted for building stalls and shade, so traders contributed and put up structures themselves,” Muigai explained.
The government remains firm that this disruption is a necessary step toward building a dignified, safe, and world-class commercial center that reflects Nairobi’s growing status as a regional economic powerhouse.
Below are the artistic renders of the proposed Ksh3B Gikomba market.
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