Business in Karen was paralyzed for a better part of Thursday as traders and hawkers engaged police in running battles. The traders had converged to protest against the county government's eviction plans.
The Karen traders are being evicted to give room for the construction of the Karen Market. Public Nairobi markets suffer from poor construction characterised by inadequate infrastructure, limited sanitation facilities, and insufficient space for traders.
The hawkers in Karen are, however, opposed to the new markets because they will cost them more.
During the Karen protests, police officers were forced to lob teargas at the traders and hawkers to disperse them as the protests gained traction online.
"Leo teargas imepelekwa Karen,but sasa hawker anaingilia wapi na kazi yake ni kutembeza viti (teargas has been taken to Karen today, but I don't see why hawkers are embroiled in this)," one Kenyan commented.
"Pia Karen??? Jameni ( Karen is also demonstrating?)," another one wondered.
In Governor Johnson Sakaja's Ksh42.3 billion budget which was passed by Nairobi MCAs, Ksh100 million was allocated for the relocation of hawkers from the streets to the markets. They will, henceforth, be required to pay Ksh50 daily instead of the Ksh20 they pay currently.
The Governor selected Karen among his launchpad for the construction of markets. During his campaigns, Sakaja had promised to construct 20 markets in Nairobi in his 5-year tenure.
Currently, the Nairobi County Government is on the familiarisation tour of the Markets Sub-Sector’s ongoing projects in different parts of the county, starting with Karen, Mutuini, and Karandini.
On August 22, Sakaja was in Karen, Langata constituency, to track the progress on the construction of the Karen Market where he assured traders and the residents of Karen of his commitment to fulfil his promises.
Apart from Karen, Sakaja is looking to construct markets in Jujo in Mihang’o, Kahawa West, Mutuini, and Riruta.
The Executive Member for the Business and Hustler Opportunities Sector, Anastasia Nyalita, and the Markets and Trade Sub-Sector Chief Officer, Jane Wangui, urged Nairobians to adopt a result-oriented approach to ensure the markets are ready as soon as possible as envisioned by the governor.
