Eldoret Market Closure Ruled Illegal; County Given 60 Days to Comply
Hon. Kimani Wanjohi said the petitioners would seek a court review to secure compensation of nearly KSh 100 million for damages incurred by hundreds of traders due to the arbitrary market closure
Eldoret-64-Ultra-Modern-Market-/Image Courtesy
The High Court in Eldoret has ruled the closure of the Champions and 64 Markets illegal, ordering Uasin Gishu County officials to reinstate traders to their former stalls. In a decision issued Monday, Environment and Land Court Judge Justice Emmanuel Washe declared the 2022 shutdown unconstitutional and said the county violated Articles 10(2)(a) and 47 of the Constitution, as well as the Fair Administrative Action Act, by failing to consult affected vendors, July 8, 2025.
Justice Washe said county officials “breached the legitimate expectations” of market traders by forcing relocation without meaningful public participation.
Peter Kimani Wanjohi and the Eldoret Market Traders Association led the petition. The court awarded them costs and issued an injunction compelling the county to restore traders to their 2019 stalls within 60 days or upon completion of ongoing renovations.
Addressing the media outside the Eldoret Environment and Land Court, Hon. Kimani Wanjohi said the petitioners would seek a court review to secure compensation of nearly KSh 100 million for damages incurred by hundreds of traders due to the arbitrary market closure.
Evans Oduor, an advocate of the High Court and part of the petitioners’ legal team, emphasized that they expect the county government to comply with the court’s directive. “Failure to do so after the lapse of the 60 days will compel us to initiate contempt of court proceedings,” he warned.
Wanjohi added that the county should immediately reinstate traders at the Eldoret Retail Market, which is not under construction, and complete any remaining renovations within the court-ordered timeframe.
construction surges ahead at 64 market
Meanwhile, crews continue building the ultra-modern 64 Market on the site of one of the shuttered marketplaces. The multi-billion-shilling project, launched by President William Ruto on Jan. 9, 2024, aims to accommodate more than 4,000 traders and resolve congestion that previously plagued the area.
The design includes two basement parking levels with 210 slots, three cold storage rooms, a food court, 97 lavatories, 16 showers, lactation spaces, and daycare facilities. Offices, meeting rooms, and 24-hour security round out the infrastructure.
Governor Jonathan Bii praised the project’s potential: “The 64 Market will not only provide modern business spaces but also uplift the economic status of our traders. It is a catalyst for economic growth and a platform for small-scale entrepreneurs.”
However, a government inspection team flagged slow progress during a Jan. 31, 2025, visit. Engineer Silas Nyambok urged the contractor to expedite work, saying, “Traders are eager to use it.”
economic ripple effects across eldoret
The dual developments come as Eldoret, Kenya’s fifth city since August 2024, positions itself as a regional commercial center. The market upgrade aligns with President Ruto’s directive following 2022 protests over overcrowding at the old Champions Market, which had displaced over 1,000 traders.
County Trade Executive Martha Cheruto said displaced vendors will receive priority once the new market opens. “We are confident that the project is going to be completed within the shortest time so that our people can begin utilizing it,” she said.
As the court’s reinstatement deadline approaches, legal analysts predict appeals or requests for extensions. At stake is not only the fate of traders but the integrity of inclusive urban development.
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