Services at the Gatukuyu Market in Kiambu County were on Saturday brought to a halt after traders chased away contractors who had been sent by the county government to reconstruct the market.
The traders explained that their actions were informed by suspicion of attempts to grab part of the market land.
According to the traders, they had no problem with the reconstruction of the market but wanted to be informed on how the project would be carried out.
“The tractor came and began aligning one side of the market, it then proceeded to the central part, so we were shocked and questioned how these people were going to construct the market,” noted a trader.
Further, the traders also demanded to meet with the county government officials alongside the contractors to ascertain that indeed the project was genuine.
According to them, the County administration failed to sensitise them on the details of the project. They also lamented the lack of enough space in the makeshift market that they were relocated to.
“They got rid of us from the market and began constructing the market in phases, so that is why we are questioning, which market is constructed in phases and they settled us on a road," another trader expressed.
“If it is constructing the market, let them construct the whole of it, not in phases. We also want Governor Kimani Wamatangi to come here so we can let him know how we want the market constructed."
The incident at Gatukuyu market comes three weeks after traders at Wangige market in Kiambu County clashed with officials from the county government over the construction of a new market.
In the Wangige market showdown, the traders accused the county government of kicking off the Ksh400 million project without conducting public participation.
"They did not properly communicate what they were coming to do in this market, so the wrangles broke because we were unaware, and even now we are still unaware of where these activities such as soil sampling began," claimed a trader from the Wangige Market.
"I do believe, if there is something to launch, you must start with the leadership of the market then after that, you can continue with the project."
