The Gikomba Traders Solidarity have moved to the High Court seeking its indulgence to stop the county government of Nairobi from demolishing their business stores and structures.
They are seeking preservatory orders from the court to stop the ongoing demolition in Gikomba until the matter is heard and determined.
Through their lawyer Danstan Omari, they are claiming to have gotten trauma after a big loss they incurred during the demolition where their properties were destroyed.
Speaking to the media at Milimani Law Court Mr Omari said that the group consisting of 222 traders trading in the name Solidarity entered the said land around 1936 where most of them are grandchildren of their parents who were trading in the same land.
They claim that they had been operating obeying the law paying taxes and owning genuine licences where previous governments had been acknowledging them.
The traders are challenging the county government of Nairobi for failure to issue notice in advance of the demolition,
“We went to court to challenge the county government of Nairobi for the way this demolition is done which is against the law,” said Omari.
The lawyer claims that there are individuals in the government who want to possess the same land and do the same business.
He added that the law does not allow demolition to be conducted at night where the traders had sworn an affidavit confirming the same and it proves the ignorance of the government.
The traders also claim that the action of their removal was done without public participation and the issuance of notice as stated by the law.
“We have moved to court to challenge the action of removing those traders who have been there for the last 56 years to bring other individuals,” protested Omari.
The market is said to be serving East African countries and chasing them out will affect trade between Kenya and those countries who rely on the market.
The traders also seek injunction orders to let them continue doing their business awaiting the ruling by the court on June 10, 2024.