“Are we being fair?” Ruto calls out leaders over Gikomba filth

                                                       President William Ruto at the County Assembly.

President William Ruto has accused land grabbers and rogue actors of frustrating development in Nairobi, vowing to confront them head-on as the government moves to modernise markets and clean up the city.

Speaking on Thursday, Ruto said illegal occupation of public land remains a major obstacle to transforming key economic hubs such as Gikomba market.

“The people I am struggling with are land grabbers people who have taken public land and made it their own. We have to confront this head-on,” he said.

The President also took aim at leaders he accused of misleading traders and resisting reforms for personal gain.

“When an alert is raised to mobilise people in Gikomba and tell them not to move, to continue doing business in filth and that leader never even goes to Gikomba… when they finish talking, they go to upmarket areas and malls to shop honestly, are we being fair?” he posed.

Ruto said such actions only serve to delay progress and keep traders operating in poor conditions.

He announced that the government will invest in upgrading Gikomba, describing it as a critical national market.

“I am putting public resources to change Gikomba. In the next six months, you will see another Gikomba. That is phase one, which will cost Sh800 million,” he said.

“Gikomba is a national market.”

The President said traders have long struggled with poor infrastructure, especially during rains, which disrupt business and access.

“The leadership of Gikomba came to see me and told me that when it rains, they cannot do business and customers cannot access their stalls. Rainwater gets into the stalls and business comes to a standstill,” he said.

Beyond markets, Ruto outlined an ambitious plan to overhaul waste management in the capital, saying the current situation undermines public health and the country’s image.

“Within three months we expect the core system to be operational, and within six months Nairobi should start experiencing a functional waste management system what any serious capital must have,” he said.

He pledged Sh2 billion annually to support waste management in Nairobi.

“We are backing this effort in real and practical terms. I have pledged Sh2 billion annually because we must clean this city. It is not just a city issue—it is a public health, dignity and national image issue,” he said.

The President called for cooperation between national and county governments to restore order, improve infrastructure, and unlock Nairobi’s economic potential.

He further declared a firm crackdown on cartels operating in Nairobi, warning that the era of protecting vested interests at the expense of the public must come to an end.