For decades, Gikomba Market has carried the scars of recurrent infernos that have devastated livelihoods and left families in despair.
From the 2014 blaze that claimed 15 lives to the 2021 fire that destroyed more than 900 stalls, traders have repeatedly rebuilt from ashes, only to lose everything again.
But this cycle of loss is set to change.
The seven-storey Gikomba Quarry Road Market Block D, now in its final stages of completion, is expected to host more than 1,700 traders in secure and organised spaces.
The modern facility includes a basement parking area, a day-care centre, youth centre, cold room, a hardware section, and an improved layout to enhance safety, hygiene, and business flow.
“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,” Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said.
He noted that the Gikomba project is part of a wider county initiative to modernise markets across Nairobi, ensuring small-scale traders operate in safe, clean, and well-managed environments.
“Our traders deserve decent spaces to do business. When we empower them, we empower the heart of Nairobi’s economy,” Sakaja said.
Beyond providing safety and structure, the market’s construction has created hundreds of jobs and is expected to boost economic activity once operational.
In Dagoretti South Sub-County, the Mutuini Market is also nearing completion. It will accommodate more than 500 traders and features cold rooms, butcheries, proper drainage systems, and enhanced lighting to improve 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.
As the new Gikomba market takes shape, optimism is growing among traders who have endured years of uncertainty and loss.
The county, in collaboration with the national government, says the development will restore order, stability, and pride to Nairobi’s informal trading spaces.
The Gikomba upgrade is one of several market modernisation projects underway across the city, including new facilities in Karen, Kahawa West, and other sub-counties, all aimed at boosting local economies and restoring dignity to the city’s vibrant trading community.
Newly constructed modern Gikomba Market / JOHNSON SAKAJAOn May 18, 2025 fire broke out at Gikomba Market, affecting traders in the footwear section near Lamu Road in Majengo, Pumwani.
Firefighters, supported by residents, managed to contain the blaze, and no injuries were reported.
The incident came just two months after another fire on April 4, 2025, which destroyed an estimated 500 stalls in the Kwa Mbao area, leaving traders counting heavy losses.
Leaders and traders expressed frustration over the recurring fires, urging authorities to implement permanent safety measures, improve infrastructure, and address suspected causes rather than offering temporary relief.
The interior of the constructed Gikomba Market / JOHNSON SAKAJA
