Sifuna faults forced relocation of traders from Wakulima Market, urges talks

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Thursday decried how traders at Wakulima Market, popularly known as Marikiti, got into a confrontation with police officers following attempts to relocate them to a newly built one on Kangundo Road in Embakasi West.

Enraged by the Governor Johnson Sakaja administration's plan to have the traders forcefully evicted from the market, Sifuna said that the notice issued to the businesspeople was invalid, saying it was hurriedly made.

"A notice that takes effect immediately is not a notice. We must engage all our people in line with the law and not ignore consultations and (due) process," said Sifuna.

The lawmaker, who has been a critic of Sakaja's leadership style, revealed that he has spoken to the county officials responsible for the relocation of the traders from Marikiti to comply with the necessary procedures.

Traffic in and out of Nairobi city centre from parts of Eastlands was paralysed on Thursday morning after the traders protested City Hall's decision to relocate them to the Kangundo Road market.

Hundreds of traders lit bonfires and blocked sections of Haile Selassie Avenue, Landhies Road and Jogoo Road as they battled county inspectorate officers who were on the ground to enforce Sakaja’s orders.

The drama started around 4 am when county askaris arrived to evict traders who were selling fresh produce on the roadsides, disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

The traders, who deal in fruits and vegetables, normally occupy large sections of Haile Selassie Avenue, causing massive traffic jams on the busy road.

On Tuesday, acting County Secretary and Head of Public Service Godfrey Kumali issued a notice to the traders, ordering them to move to the Kangundo Road market.

"This is to bring to your attention the Nairobi City County government's decision to decongest the Nairobi central business district for smooth vehicle traffic and human flow. It has been decided that all onion, pineapple, oranges and potato traders operating outside and inside the market relocate to Kangundo Road Market where there is spacious trading space and ample parking for business," the notice said.

After getting the notice, the traders mobilised their colleagues on Wednesday evening and were at the market as early as 2.30 am, ready to take on the city askaris.

They attempted to block the city askaris from accessing the market and later engaged the enforcement officers in running battles, causing panic and fear among matatu operators and passengers.

Police who were called in to reinforce the city askaris fired teargas at the traders who paralysed business in areas adjacent to Muthurwa, including OTC and Kamukunji, as traffic snarl-ups stretched as far as City Stadium.

While the notice was served on Wakulima Market traders, those operating from the adjacent Muthurwa Market joined them in the protests.

The drama has cast a spotlight on the over Sh500 million Kangundo Road Market that has remained unoccupied since it was completed seven years ago.

Built during the era of former governor Mike Sonko, the market is one of the many projects that cost taxpayers billions of shillings but remain unutilised and generate little or no revenue for City Hall.

This is not the first attempt to relocate the traders from the city centre to Kangundo Road.

During a recent visit to the new market, Sakaja said his administration would give two weeks to traders who had not occupied their stalls to do so.