A sharp political confrontation erupted on Tuesday after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused the government of orchestrating a violent night operation at Gikomba Market that he says left traders counting heavy losses and raised fresh questions about the treatment of informal workers in the capital.
In a strongly worded statement, Gachagua condemned what he described as “inhuman and beastly treatment,” alleging that thousands of small-scale traders were affected after property worth millions of shillings was destroyed during what he termed a “cowardly government raid.” He claimed the operation was politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of intimidation against ordinary Kenyans.
“It is totally unfair for a government to treat its people like we witnessed last night at Gikomba Market,” he said, adding that traders who rely on daily income were left devastated.
He said the destruction of goods amounted to an attack on livelihoods rather than a routine enforcement action. The former Deputy President further linked the incident to earlier political commitments made during the 2022 General Election campaign, arguing that those in government had promised to avoid forced evictions and night-time operations targeting informal settlements and markets.
“It shall be remembered that when we campaigned for this regime in the run-up to the 2022 General Elections, we promised, and made a firm undertaking that never shall we destroy property and do forceful displacement and eviction of people, and never do so at night,” he said.
Gachagua also revived tensions surrounding his impeachment last year, alleging that part of the case against him stemmed from his refusal to implement what he described as unlawful eviction orders, which he attributed to President William Ruto.
“It shall further be remembered that one of the charges of the illegal impeachment on me was my refusal and defying illegal and inhuman orders from Mr. William Ruto to carry out forceful evictions and night raids on the people of Kenya,” he said.
He escalated his criticism further, accusing the head of state of losing touch with ordinary citizens and aligning with powerful economic interests. He said the government had become indifferent to small-scale traders and farmers, describing the situation as evidence of growing frustration within the administration.
“The red-eyed Pharaoh cannot hear anyone anymore; doesn’t care about human life anymore,” he said, warning that public anger was rising ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also alleged that politically connected business interests were benefiting from state actions at the expense of informal traders, accusing national and county authorities of working with “security strongmen” to reshape urban commercial spaces.
“The vicious man Mr. William Ruto has personally revealed himself and in cohort with Nairobi City County Governor and other overzealous security strongmen tearing our nation apart is a threat to our Nation,” he said.
He further expressed solidarity with affected traders. “To the Gikomba Market traders, I shall and we the people of Kenya stand with you,” he said. “Poleni sana.”
The government has, however, dismissed claims that the incident was a politically driven raid targeting traders.
While the county has not specifically confirmed the scale or nature of the damage alleged by Gachagua, officials said enforcement actions are typically preceded by notices and are guided by planning and safety regulations. They argued that some structures in informal markets encroach on restricted land and contribute to congestion and safety hazards.
At the national level, government-aligned officials have similarly defended urban clean-up operations, saying they are necessary to reclaim public land and prevent disasters such as fires and flooding, while rejecting claims of political motivation.
