NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 1- President William Ruto has said traders at Gikomba Market are fully supportive of government plans to transform the sprawling open-air market into a modern national trading hub, urging leaders to refrain from politicizing the process.Speaking during a Maendeleo ya Wanawake meeting in State House, the President dismissed claims that the redevelopment has sparked divisions, insisting that consultations with traders had yielded consensus on the way forward.“The traders themselves have an agreement with me. Even the chairman of Gikomba said yesterday said that they have agreed with the government,” Ruto said.He warned politicians against introducing tribal or political undertones into the project, saying such efforts risk undermining a development initiative aimed at improving livelihoods.“There are people trying to bring politics into this, claiming there is eviction or tribalism. I want to tell those people take your tribalism elsewhere. Leave Gikomba traders alone. Forget about petty politicians looking for cheap publicity,” he stated.The President said traders had personally petitioned him to intervene and address long-standing challenges that have plagued the market, including poor sanitation, congestion and frequent fires.“They told me Gikomba is a place of mud, with sewage flowing through it, and endless problems. They asked me to help them, and I promised I would rebuild it,” he said.Ruto revealed that the transformation will be implemented in phases, beginning with the construction of a linear market that will accommodate about 5,000 traders, backed by an initial allocation of Sh800 million.An additional Sh3 billion has been set aside, with plans underway to develop a larger, modern facility estimated at Sh5 billion, including a multi-storey complex.“We are going to transform Gikomba into a national trading hub. There will be no sewage, no mud. We will build a modern, seven-storey market where traders can work in dignity,” he said.The Head of State said the redevelopment of Gikomba forms part of a broader national plan under the Bottom-Up economic model to uplift small-scale traders by providing dignified working environments.He noted that the government is constructing hundreds of markets across the country, most of which are expected to benefit women who dominate informal trade.“We are building markets across Kenya because small traders, including mama mboga, deserve proper spaces with water, electricity, sanitation, storage and even childcare facilities,” he said.The President maintained that the project will not only improve working conditions but also boost business by attracting more customers and enhancing overall efficiency.Gikomba, one of the largest second-hand goods markets in the region, supports thousands of livelihoods and has long been viewed as a critical economic hub despite its infrastructural challenges.Ruto reiterated that the government’s focus remains on delivering development and improving livelihoods, urging Kenyans to remain united and reject divisive politics.Earlier,the government had announced that the redevelopment of Gikomba Market into a modern trading hub will be completed within six months, even as traders reel from losses following a recent demolition exercise.Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the construction will be undertaken in phases to minimise disruption to business activities, assuring traders that alternative spaces have already been set aside.“It is not possible to relocate more than 200,000 traders at once. That is why we are implementing the project in phases, and no one will lose their livelihood because we have provided alternative areas for trading,” he said.Hinga described Gikomba as a market that has long outgrown its capacity, citing congestion and poor planning as key challenges that have rendered it inefficient.“Despite having access roads, there is hardly any room for vehicles due to the overwhelming pressure. It has become a space that accommodates everyone, but in the process, it has lost functionality,” he noted.According to the PS, the redevelopment was prompted by appeals from traders who sought government intervention to address the deteriorating conditions at the market. He said discussions with the national leadership led to the allocation of Sh5 billion for the project.The planned upgrade aims to transform the sprawling second-hand goods market into a modern facility with improved infrastructure, safer trading spaces, and enhanced amenities.“We are reimagining Gikomba into a dignified and organised market. This is not just about construction, but about creating an environment where traders can operate safely and with pride,” Hinga said.However, the project has sparked controversy following the demolition of structures in the shoe section on the night of March 30, an exercise linked to efforts to reclaim riparian land and pave the way for a riverfront development.By Tuesday morning, traders were left combing through debris, counting losses worth millions of shillings after bulldozers moved in overnight.Some traders accused authorities of exceeding the agreed demolition boundaries, a claim that has also drawn criticism from a section of leaders.For many, the destruction has dealt a heavy blow to livelihoods in a market that has long served as an economic lifeline for thousands.Gikomba, often seen as a place of opportunity where small-scale traders build their businesses from modest beginnings, was instead marked by distress, as affected traders struggled to salvage what remained of their goods.The government, however, maintains that the redevelopment will ultimately deliver a safer, more organised, and inclusive trading environment for all.