Embattled Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday drove himself to the Senate just hours after reportedly evading arrest by police, as he prepared to face lawmakers over allegations of misappropriation of funds and audit queries.
Sakaja is expected to respond to concerns raised by senators regarding the management of county finances, in a session likely to intensify political pressure on his administration.
At the same time, the government moved to defend the controversial demolition of sections of Gikomba Market, unveiling plans for a modern Sh3 billion facility under the River Regeneration Programme.
In a video highlighting the new phase of the Gikomba project, President William Ruto emphasized the market’s national importance. “We must pay attention to Gikomba because it is a national market serving traders across Kenya,” he said. “We are going to build a modern market, one that you have not seen before.”
Traders affected by the demolition expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the redevelopment despite past losses. One trader noted, “I have been in this business for more than 10 years. I have lost a lot of money and was not compensated, but if the government is genuine, I am ready to support the plan.”
Authorities confirmed that traders are being relocated to a temporary holding area as construction progresses in phases. “We have created a holding space where traders have even built their own shades after contributing among themselves,” an official explained.
Traders’ leaders said they are ready to allocate spaces in the new holding area. “By tomorrow, we are ready to allocate these spaces to our traders,” one leader stated, adding that the phased approach would ease the transition.
The government maintained that the redevelopment is part of a broader urban renewal agenda. “This Nairobi will not be about chaos—we are transforming it into a city of projects and structured development,” an official added.
The twin developments—Sakaja’s Senate appearance and the Gikomba redevelopment—underscore growing scrutiny of Nairobi’s leadership alongside the government’s push for large-scale urban transformation.
