DP Gachagua takes 'Marikiti war' to Nairobi Governor Sakaja's doorstep

A new war is brewing between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

The two have previously been at loggerheads over a plan to relocate matatus from Nairobi's central business district (CBD), which Gachagua vehemently opposed.

On Friday, DP Gachagua, accompanied by a section of UDA legislators, condemned Governor Sakaja's intention to relocate traders from the popular Wakulima Market, commonly known as Marikiti, from the CBD.

Addressing the traders outside that market on Haile Selassie Avenue, Gachagua wondered why there was a sudden need to relocate the traders from the market which has been in existence since 1966.

"This market has been here. When we were campaigning at Wakulima Market, there were a lot of people and no one had a problem. After we got their many votes, it is now said there is a congestion problem in the CBD," Gachagua stated.

"No one bothered to tell traders that they would be evicted when they were asking for their votes during the campaign period," he added.

The DP said he will fight for the rights of all Kenyans, even those who are in the Marikiti market, regardless of whether they come from Mt Kenya or not.

"I will speak with your MP and area MCA. We will talk and know the way forward. But we shall stand with you. God bless you," Gachagua said.

Notice to relocate

Last week, City Hall gave Marikiti traders a notice to relocate to the newly constructed Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road in Embakasi West Sub-County.

Being against the move, the traders on Thursday, September 12, 2024, staged protests which disrupted traffic flow and normal business operations along Haile Selassie Avenue.

The following day, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye halted the eviction order issued by City Hall. The case will be reviewed again on September 30 for further instruction.

"Pending inter partes hearing and determination of this application, an order is hereby issued restraining the county from evicting the traders operating within or in the vicinity of Wakulima Market, Nairobi, or interfering with their business operations in those areas," Judge Mwamuye stated.

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

Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei assured the traders of their safety during the relocation period.

Restore order in the city

Governor Sakaja stressed the importance of the relocation in restoring order within the capital.

He noted that both Muthurwa and Marikiti markets have been operating beyond capacity, with three times more traders than the intended 1,200.

The Kangundo Road market, according to Sakaja, will offer traders a more conducive space to operate from, benefiting both the traders and the city at large.

"We mean well and cannot allow our people to suffer. This move will ensure that traders have a better space for improved services," Sakaja said.

To ease the burden of relocation, the governor announced that the county government would waive cess payments for the next two months, giving the traders time to settle into the new location without additional financial pressure.

But while opposing the move, Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, popularly known as Mejja Donk, said it was ironic that the Nairobi governor, who campaigned at the market and asked for votes from the traders, was the person intending to chase them out.

He vowed that the leaders allied to the deputy president would stand with the traders and not to allow anyone kick them out of their trading place.

"I will stand with you traders until the end. We will not allow anyone to remove you from this area. People working in this market are the same people who gave us votes. Why should we oppress you? We voted for the governor and he is the one chasing you out,” Gathiru said.

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya also faulted Governor Sakaja for abruptly and hurriedly deciding to kick out the traders from the market.

Sakaja's predecessors

Referring to Sakaja's predecessors, the UDA MP highlighted that none has ever succeeded in relocating the Marikiti market.

"It is very surprising to see that someone whom we campaigned for to become the governor of Nairobi wants to kick out these people from the market," Gakuya said.

“We had former governors Evans Kidero, Mike Sonko, and even Mohammed Badi from NMS who wanted to shift this market but they didn’t do it. Who are you to think your plan will succeed?” he asked.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, who also accompanied the DP, said he would persuade the Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism to summon Governor Sakaja to explain his plans for the market.

Starehe MP Amos Mwago of the Jubilee party claimed that there were plans to grab the land once Markiti traders relocate.

However, being the MP of the area where the market is located, Mwago vowed to protect the traders from people he termed as “oppressors”.

"We will fight for the traders. I know some people have intentions with this land and they want to grab it. This market will not be relocated," he said.