Will Gikomba Traders Get First Priority? Yusuf Hassan Assures Hawkers as New Quarry Road Market Nears Opening

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has assured Gikomba traders that they will be given first priority when the new seven-storey Quarry Road Market opens for occupation.

The MP met informal hawkers operating inside Gikomba Market on Monday, June 8, 2026, where he listened to their concerns, addressed fears about possible demolitions, and outlined ongoing development plans around the market.

The new Quarry Road Market is nearing completion and is expected to accommodate more than 3,000 traders, offering a more organised, safer and better serviced trading environment for the Gikomba business community.

First Priority for Existing Gikomba Traders

Yusuf Hassan told traders that those currently operating within Gikomba will be the first to benefit when allocation of spaces begins at the new market.

Existing traders to be prioritised in the new Quarry Road Market allocation
More than 3,000 traders expected to be accommodated
Seven-storey modern market nearing readiness for occupation
Better trading conditions aimed at reducing congestion and improving safety

The MP said the goal is to ensure that traders who have built their livelihoods in Gikomba are not pushed aside as the market is modernised.

I spoke with informal hawkers operating inside Gikomba market this morning and assured them that they will receive first priority and be relocated to the new 7-story Quarry Road Market, which is nearly ready for occupation and can accommodate over 3,000 traders.

Blocks B and C Traders Assured of Safety

During the engagement, Yusuf Hassan also addressed fears among traders in Blocks B and C following rumours that the two adjacent markets were set for demolition.

He assured the traders that they are safe where they are and dismissed the rumours as unfounded.

“I told the traders in Blocks B and C that they are safe where they are and dispelled unfounded rumours about plans to demolish the two adjacent markets,” he said.

The assurance was welcomed by traders, many of whom had been anxious about the future of their stalls, businesses and daily income.

Standing With Gikomba Traders

The visit also carried a strong message of solidarity with Gikomba’s traders, especially women hawkers who welcomed the MP warmly during his walk through the market.

Yusuf Hassan praised the traders for their resilience, hard work and contribution to Kamukunji’s economy.

“Wakina Mama wa soko la Gikomba ni watu waafao na wenye roho safi sana. Nitasimama nao na kupigania haki yao kila siku,” he said.

For many traders, the visit was not only about infrastructure. It was also about being heard, protected and included in decisions that affect their livelihoods.

Health and Roads Also on the Agenda

The MP also updated traders on other key services affecting the Gikomba, Majengo and Pumwani communities.

He said Pumwani Level 3 Hospital has now been equipped, staffed and is fully operational, giving residents and traders better access to healthcare close to where they live and work.

Yusuf Hassan also confirmed that his office, working through KeRRA, will continue improving roads within the market, beginning with the reconstruction of Meru Road, which runs through Gikomba.

Pumwani Level 3 Hospital: Equipped, staffed and operational
Meru Road: Reconstruction planned through KeRRA
Market access: Road works expected to improve movement for traders and customers
Public services: Health, roads and market infrastructure being addressed together

A Wider Plan for Gikomba

The Quarry Road Market, the improvement of Meru Road and the operationalisation of Pumwani Level 3 Hospital form part of a wider development agenda for Pumwani Ward and the larger Kamukunji Constituency.

For Yusuf Hassan, the message to traders was clear: modernisation must protect livelihoods, not destroy them.

By assuring existing traders of priority allocation, calming fears over Blocks B and C, and linking the market upgrade to roads and health services, the MP positioned Gikomba’s transformation as a people-centred development project.

For thousands of traders, especially those who depend on the market for daily income, the promise of a modern market and protection from displacement offers renewed confidence in the future of Gikomba.