Kenya: Ichung'wah Calls Gachagua a 'Fool' Over Gikomba Claims

What the report says

Kenya’s National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah used a parliamentary exchange to criticize Democracy for Citizens party leader Rigathi Gachagua over claims that Nairobi’s Gikomba Market had been sold. According to Capital FM’s report distributed by AllAfrica, Ichung’wah dismissed the allegation in harsh terms while speaking in the House and said the public had been misled about the fate of traders in the market.

Ichung’wah said he had recently visited Gikomba and saw activity there that, in his view, contradicted the rumors. He linked the issue to government work on clearing sections of Nairobi’s rivers and improving drainage, especially around Kamukunji and Gikomba, where businesses and residents have been asked to move to allow the works to proceed.

The Majority Leader argued that the relocations were needed to reduce the risk of flooding and to avoid a repeat of earlier deadly incidents that damaged property and infrastructure in Nairobi. He also referred more broadly to damage in Starehe Constituency and called for a government response to related concerns raised by a local MP.

The remarks triggered interruptions in Parliament. Temporary Speaker David Ochieng sought clarification on whether Ichung’wah was referring to someone specific, while other lawmakers offered competing views: Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said flood preparedness was a serious national issue, and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi criticized the debate as a distraction from parliamentary business.