United Opposition leaders led by Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa and Justin Muturi have strongly condemned the demolition of stalls at the Gikomba market in Nairobi, describing the exercise as inhumane.

Speaking at a press conference in Wote, Makueni County, the leaders who are on a five-day tour of the Ukambani region, accused the President William Ruto-led administration of disregarding the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.

The leaders also criticized the government for conducting the operation overnight, leaving traders to wake up to significant losses.

“Thousands of Traders, and other small scale traders have had their properties and items worth millions of Shillings destroyed in a night of a cowardly government raid for what covertly is a political scheme,” DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua said.

On his part, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, criticized the government for carrying out the demolition under the cover of darkness without issuing prior warnings to traders.

He added that such actions contribute to why President William Ruto may end up serving only a single term.

“At 4 AM, the Ruto regime bulldozed Gikomba Market under the cover of darkness. No warning. No dignity. Just rubble. Traders woke up to nothing: livelihoods, stock, and futures, gone. A government that destroys its own people does not deserve to serve them. It must go,” Kalonzo stated.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua further stated that ahead of the 2022 general elections, the Kenya Kwanza Coalition had promised never to destroy property, forcibly displace or evict people, and never to carry out such actions at night.

He added, however, that they have quickly forgotten these commitments and are now meting out injustices to the very citizens who elected them.

“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 of and eviction of people, and never do so at night,” Gachagua said.

He alleged that President Ruto, aware that re-election may be uncertain, has collaborated with the Nairobi City County Government to target small scale traders.

“Ruto have your day, your power and the sword, but power is quickly going out and 10th August 2027 will be the time to realize what Kenyans are saying,” he said.

“To the Gikomba Market traders, I shall and we the people of Kenya stand with you, may it be what it shall.”