Jua Kali traders under the Kisumu Centre Jua Kali Artisans Association have expressed deep disappointment a day after the High Court ruled that the land they have occupied for nearly four decades belongs to the Kenya Railways Corporation.
Speaking at the Jua Kali site in Kamas, Kisumu, on Wednesday, the association’s Secretary-General, David Odanga, described the judgment delivered by Justice Samson Okongo as a major setback for over 38,000 traders who have built livelihoods on the 8.4-acre plot.
“It is a bad morning for us. We are saddened by yesterday’s judgment that the land we have fought for over six years belongs to Kenya Railways,” Odanga said.
He recalled that the association had initially won a case against Kenya Railways in 2020, only for the corporation to appeal, dragging the matter through the courts. Odanga warned that eviction would not only displace traders but also derail training for young artisans, noting that the improvements made to the land are worth billions of shillings.
“We cannot let this land go. We will continue fighting, either through engaging the Head of State, appealing the case in court, or negotiating with Kenya Railways. Any eviction, if it happens, will have to be phased,” he added.
Hussein Jack, the association chairman, said the Kisumu Block 6/517 land was originally allocated to Jua Kali artisans by former President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi in 1986. He argued that under the constitution, long-term occupancy grants rights to land, expressing confidence that the artisans would remain on the site.
“The judgment is disappointing, but as members of the Jua Kali community, we will not move,” Jack said. He added that the association has reached out to Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o and President William Ruto, urging the government to safeguard the sector and maintain a conducive environment for business.
The Jua Kali community, which started with only 200 members, has since grown to over 38,000 traders, making the land a critical hub for both livelihoods and artisan training in Kisumu.
