President William Ruto has issued a definitive executive order that could finally end the curse of Gikomba Market. In a bold move to extinguish the twin perils of mysterious fires and land grabbing, the Head of State has directed that the title deed for the sprawling market be processed and issued to Nairobi County within 90 days.

The directive, issued on January 20, 2026, is a direct confrontation with the "faceless cartels" that have long been rumored to orchestrate arson attacks to displace traders and seize the prime land. "This will once and for all address speculation by land grabbers," Ruto declared at State House. "The market is on public land, and it will stay public land."

The Paper Shield

For the thousands of traders who have seen their stocks reduced to ash year after year, the title deed is more than a document; it is a shield. Without legal ownership vested in the County, the land has remained vulnerable to private developers wielding dubious court orders. By vesting the title in the County, the President effectively nationalizes the defense of Gikomba.

He has tasked Lands CS Alice Wahome and the National Land Commission (NLC) to fast-track the process. The clock is ticking. If the deed is not ready by April, it will be seen as yet another broken promise to the "hustlers" who form the bedrock of Ruto’s political base.

• Phase 3 Loading: The President also announced the imminent construction of Phase Three of the modern market, a multi-billion shilling project aimed at moving traders from wooden shanties to fire-proof concrete stalls.
• The Trash War: Ruto pledged national government support to Governor Sakaja to tackle the garbage menace that plagues the market, turning the environment into a health hazard.
• The Skepticism: Traders welcomed the news with cautious optimism. "We have heard promises before," said one garment seller. "We will celebrate when we see the document."

A Political Hot Potato

Gikomba is not just a market; it is the economic heartbeat of Eastlands and a political hot potato. Every fire sparks a blame game between the County, the State, and private interests. By intervening directly, Ruto is taking personal responsibility for the outcome. Success means cementing his legacy as the defender of the small trader; failure means the fires—and the anger—will continue to burn.