Why Sh800m market on Kangundo Road remained unused for six years

The planned relocation of wholesale traders from the Wakulima Market (Marikiti) in Nairobi's central business district has sparked debate on the New Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road, where they are supposed to shift.

Traders from both Wakulima and Muthurwa markets who were opposing the relocation on Thursday held protests in the city, but Governor Johnson Sakaja 's administration remained firm on the decision.

But what do we know about the new market?

Wakulima Market, popularly known as Marikiti, is the unchallenged fresh produce market in Nairobi.

It was built in 1966 to accommodate at least 300 traders but the number has increased tremendously, pushing some traders to display their wares on Haile Selassie Avenue, the road that passes outside the market.

Trucks and pick-ups loaded with farm produce start arriving at the market as early as midnight. Some of the trucks bear Tanzanian and Ugandan registration.

The demand for farm produce has resulted in disorganisation in the once orderly market. Chaotic is the fairest description of the state of affairs at Marikiti.

Top on the list of the challenges facing both markets are piles of uncollected garbage. Over time, the county government has stopped collecting rubbish and cleaning the markets daily. It only gets to perform that duty occasionally after the media shames it.

The new market, located in Mowlem Ward, Embakasi West Sub-County, whose construction started in 2017, was completed a year later.

It was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) at Sh800 million and was built by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura).

The market was intended to accommodate traders who were displaced when Outering Road was being expanded, as well as relocate traders from Marikiti market in CBD.

The market has two floors with 158 stalls, 12 shops, 36 shutters on the ground floor, and additional shutters with the provision of more on the first floor.

It also has ablution and shower blocks on each floor as well as an external washroom, four water storage tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres and two 900,000 litres underground water tanks.

The market is estimated to accommodate more than 4,000 traders.

Why hasn't it been occupied?

Despite its completion in 2018, the New Wakulima Market was never occupied until last week when Governor Sakaja ordered it to be officially opened.

After its completion in 2018, City Hall urged Nairobi traders to report impostors asking them to pay for market space.

Concerns had been raised that city residents were being blackmailed into giving money to have market spaces reserved for them. As a result, the process to have traders relocate was stalled.

The situation caught former President Uhuru Kenyatta's attention who then warned Nairobi politicians against inciting traders to illegally occupy the five new city markets built at Sh2.2 billion.

"Soon I will come here to open the markets but I don't want to see any incitement on who will occupy these markets. We want to have a fair process to ensure that everyone will have equal opportunity to occupy the stores," Kenyatta said.

However, his presidential term ended before he commissioned the market.

In 2019, Kura gave Marikiti traders until December of that year to relocate from the CBD market as they planned to build an ultra-modern road where the market stands.

The project was to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by Kura.

The road was to overpass the railway station and connect with Enterprise Road to reduce congestion.

Some of the unoccupied stalls at the New Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road. (Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui)

The ultra-modern road was one of the Vision 2030 projects captured in the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan to decongest the city.

However, the traders ignored the vacation order.

In July 2021, Kura announced that 943 traders displaced during the dualling of Outering Road would be relocated to the market.

Kura Director-General Silas Kinoti said another 490 spaces had not yet been allocated at the market and called on interested persons to apply at the deputy county commissioner's office in Njiru Sub-County at no charge.

Forty-nine stalls had been set aside for persons living with disabilities. Other areas would be allocated 30 per cent of the remaining spaces. Still, the market was never occupied.

After his election, Governor Sakaja on October 5, 2022 announced that the New Wakulima Market would be officially opened by President William Ruto in December of the same year but this never happened.

This week, City Hall issued an eviction notice to the traders.

"It has been decided that all potato, pineapple, oranges, and onion traders operating outside and inside the market relocate to Kangundo Road Market, where there is spacious trading space and ample parking for business. This notice takes effect immediately," read the notice.

But the traders on Thursday staged protests which disrupted traffic flow and normal business operations along Haile Selassie Avenue.

Some traders were unhappy with the notice, saying Wakulima Market is strategically located.

"We are comfortable where we are and even If we relocate, how sure are we that we will find space?" asked Miriam Njeri.

"The market we are told to relocate to is far away. I'm sure residents around the new market want to trade from there and it might lead to conflicts,” another protester, Monica Nduku, said.

But a few commuters who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice welcomed the move to relocate the market from the city’s CBD.

"During rush hours, especially in the evening, there are traffic jams in the area because some traders have extended their operations to the roadside. As drivers, we find it difficult because we have to drive with caution not to knock down the traders or their wares," Chris Okumu said.

"I think the relocation is for the traders' own safety. Haile Selassie is a busy road, and traders risk their lives trading on the road," Tom Kasuku said.

On allegations that the Kangundo Road market is full, the county government assured the traders that it has enough space to accommodate at least 5,000 sellers.

“The market had been lying idle for years and it is now that we want to awaken the project," said Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali.

A visit by The Eastleigh Voice to the New Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road established that it has been already occupied but some stalls remained closed.

On Friday, Milimani High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye halted the eviction order issued by City Hall.

However, a section of Marikiti traders led by Wakulima Market Chairman Paul Maina met and reached an agreement with Governor Sakaja and other county officials. They agreed to relocate to the new Kangundo Road market.

Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei reassured the traders of their safety during the relocation period.

It now remains to be seen whether Marikiti traders will relocate to their new trading space.