Sakaja stoned, chased away from Toi Market [VIDEO]

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was forced to leave Toi Market on Saturday after traders chased him away.

The county boss visited the market after a fire consumed some of its sections on Saturday morning and claimed four lives. 

Some aggrieved traders pelted him with stones, forming his security to shield and evacuate him to a safer area.

Before the crowd turned rowdy, the governor, in the company of Woodley MCA Davidson Ngibuini, had spoken to some traders.

He revealed that Nairobi on Friday night experienced seven fires, perhaps explaining why the fire engines arrived late at the market.

As expected, Sakaja said the county will stand with the families bereaved.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and his entourage pelted with stones during his visit to Toi Market in Kibera after a fire incident on Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/qrgRHUbDra

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) August 3, 2024

“Pole sana to all affected, and condolences to the bereaved. Sadly, we lost four souls in the inferno. We will support their families during this trying time,” he said.

The county boss also pledged that City Hall will assist the traders in rebuilding their stalls.

Addressing the stone-throwing incident, the governor referred to the incident as incitement.

“For those who caused incitement, it is well; nothing will stop us from supporting our people,” Sakaja added.

Toi Market, similar to Gikomba, has been a victim of perennial fires that have resulted in the loss of commodities worth millions.

The plight of market traders affected by fires has remained unchanged for years, with the fires being a constant threat to their businesses.

Calls for probes and promises by politicians are some of the tales traders are told after losing properties to market fires.

Last year, on June 11, 2023, an inferno burned down a large section of Toi Market, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja promised to help the traders rebuild their stalls.

As usual, Governor Sakaja, who visited the traders the same evening, promised to help those affected by the inferno rebuild their stalls.

Sakaja noted that affected traders will receive temporary material and food support as they await the start of rebuilding.

"Traders at Toi Market have lost so much after last night's inferno. Poleni sana," he said.

"We have assessed the damage, and we will help you rebuild. In the meantime, we have organised food and material support."

The governor stated that the rebuilding project will also incorporate plans to create ample road access inside the market.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was forced to flee Toi Market after traders pelted him with stones on Saturday, August 3, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

MCAs further passed a motion compelling the Sakaja-led administration to construct a perimeter wall at Toi Market in the financial year 2023–24.

Majority Leader Peter Imwatok moved the motion, which called for collaboration with the administrative authorities, community leaders, and stakeholders to ensure that the market's reconstruction following the recent arson meets the unique needs of the traders.

However, nothing has changed 13 months later.

Godfrey Akumali, Chief Officer for Trade, Markets, and Cooperatives, revealed earlier this year why City Hall had yet to rebuild Toi Market.

He noted that the land at Toi Market was contested.

"You must be aware that one of the major problems facing Toi Market is the land. The land is contested, which means we are unable to start the project as soon as we wanted," Akumali said.

The Chief Officer, however, was optimistic that, as the Lands Department had initiated the process of reclaiming the land, City Hall would soon erect the perimeter wall.

"We have initiated contact with our colleagues in the land sector to reclaim the land. So they will have to survey and retitle it," Akumali said then.

The Chief Officer emphasised that the county will remove any illegal structures along Toi Market once City Hall takes full ownership.

However, he noted that we would rebuild the Toi market in phases to avoid displacing all traders at once. This is yet to be actualised.