After decades of devastating fires that wiped out businesses and livelihoods, Gikomba traders can finally look forward to safer days ahead.
The construction of the new Gikomba Quarry Road Market Block D, a seven-storey complex now in its final phase, is expected to accommodate more than 1,700 traders in organised and secure spaces designed to prevent the tragedies that have long haunted the city’s largest open-air market.
The new facility is equipped with modern features including a basement parking lot, a cold storage room, daycare and youth centres, a hardware section, and a structured layout aimed at improving sanitation, order, and safety.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the transformation of Gikomba is part of a broader plan to modernise markets across the capital and restore dignity to informal traders.
“For years, Gikomba has been a place of pain for many families who’ve lost everything to fires. We made a commitment to end that cycle of loss. What we’re building here is not just a market, it’s hope, order, and dignity for our traders,” he said on Wednesday.
He added that the city’s small traders are the backbone of Nairobi’s economy and deserve better facilities to operate from. “Our traders deserve decent spaces to do business. When we empower them, we empower the heart of Nairobi’s economy,” Sakaja noted.
The governor said the new market will not only offer safety but also open new economic opportunities through job creation and improved trading conditions. Hundreds of residents have already benefited from construction jobs, with many more expected to gain once the market begins operations.
At the same time, the county government is finalising similar projects in other areas to support small enterprises. In Dagoretti South, the Mutuini Market is almost complete and will house over 500 traders.
It comes with facilities such as cold rooms, butcheries, proper drainage, and lighting to promote hygiene and security.
“We’re moving from chaos to structure, from makeshift stalls to modern spaces. Every trader in Nairobi deserves to work with dignity, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering,” Sakaja reiterated.
According to the county, the Gikomba project is among several ongoing market modernisation initiatives in areas like Kahawa West and Karen, aimed at boosting local economies and creating an orderly business environment.
Officials say the new market will bring stability and pride to the city’s informal traders who have faced years of loss and rebuilding.
