City Hall says no turning back on relocation of traders from Marikiti

Traders at Nairobi’s Wakulima Market, also known as Marikiti, have been given an ultimatum to relocate to the new Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road within seven days or risk losing their market spaces there.

This is despite Thursday morning protests in opposition to the planned relocation to the market, leading to traffic disruptions and forcing police to use tear gas on the demonstrating traders. Offices belonging to the city county government were also burnt in the chaos.

Addressing journalists later in the day, Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali said City Hall was firm on the plans to decongest the CBD, adding that the relocation of the traders was necessary.

He also noted that the New Wakulima Market on Kangundo Road was constructed to allow the relocation of Marikiti traders.

"As we speak, Marikiti market cannot accommodate the number of traders together with their customers and that is why the New Wakulima Market was constructed," Akumali said.

Wakulima Market was built in 1966 to accommodate at least 300 traders, but the number has increased tremendously, pushing some traders to display their wares along the road.

The Sh800 million New Wakulima Market is located in Mowlem Ward, Embakasi West sub-county. It was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura).

Construction of the market, which has two floors, started in July 2017 and it was completed a year later.

The market was estimated to accommodate over 4,000 traders in a bid to help decongest county markets and increase access to quality, affordable and sustainable food.

Some of the protesting Marikiti traders had lamented that City Hall had issued a vacation notice directing them to move immediately, which was inconvenient to them.

Some also lamented that they had not been allocated spaces at the new market and that it was already full.

However, the county secretary argued that Kura had already allocated spaces for the traders.

"We are aware that public participation had been done and traders were aware of the relocation plans years back," Akumali said.

On allegations that the market was full, the county government assured the traders that the market has enough space to accommodate at least 5,000 traders.

“The New Wakulima Market has space for 5,000 traders. The market had been lying idle for years and it is now that we want to awaken the project," Akumali said.

City Hall condemned the violent protests that led to the burning of county offices. Akumali claimed the events were politically influenced and that those found culpable would face the law.

In addition, City Hall called on the traders to relocate to the new market as well as engage officials from the Business and Hustlers Sector to address further concerns.

Akumali reiterated the requirement for wholesalers to relocate to Kangundo Road and for hawkers to adhere to designated trading areas and times to maintain order in the city.

"We are asking our traders to move to Kangundo Road market and we shall continue to engage with them as a county," Akumali said.