Marikiti and Muthurwa market traders paralysed business and blocked access to Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) for the better part of Thursday morning.
The traders took to the city streets as early as 3 a.m. to protest the planned relocation to the newly constructed Kangundo Road Market.
Jogoo and Haile Sellasie Roads were blocked as the traders burnt tires on sections of the roads blocking traffic to and out of the Nairobi CBD.
In a bid by the County Government to allow free flow of traffic and provide parking space, the traders received a notice on September 10 from County Secretary Godfrey Akumali to relocate to the Kangundo Road Market.
A photo of the newly constructed Kangundo Road Market, September 2024
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Nairobi County
In the notice, potato, pineapple, oranges, and onion traders were directed to move to the newly opened Kangundo Road market.
Inside Kangundo Road Market
The Kangundo Road Market has a capacity of 1,600 stalls and is expected to house traders around Kangundo and those from other parts of the city. There has, however, been confusion about who will occupy the stalls as traders in Kangudo decried that the stalls were being allocated to rich people who do not belong around there.
Responding to the strike by the traders, Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai reiterated that the relocation is still ongoing.
The MCA revealed that traders could not continue to scatter around the city, leaving no space for people and vehicles to move around.
The newly constructed Kangundo Road Market, September 2024.
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Nairobi County
“Traders must relocate to built markets. You can’t have disorder in the city because people have turned every open space into a market”, the MCA stated.
The Nairobi County Government led by Governor Johnson Sakaja is looking to build over 20 markets in the governor’s tenure.
Muthurwa, Marikiti, and Burma markets control close to two-thirds of market activities within Nairobi, generating the bulk of the county’s revenues from traders.
Sakaja is eyeing to use the markets to generate three times more revenue for the county.
Nairobi County established five mega markets in conjunction with the national government and development partners during the 2023/24 period, costing an estimated Sh3 billion and producing approximately 4,000 trading spaces.
These marketplaces include Quarry Road, Kangundo Road, Karandini, Mwariro, Westlands, and City Park.
Kangundo Road Market housing 1,600 stalls, September 2024.
Photo
Nairobi County
Kangundo Road Market, September 2024
Photo
Nairobi County
Kangundo Road Market, September 2024.
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Nairobi County
The newly constructed Kangundo Road market, September 2024.
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The newly constructed Kangundo Road market by Governor Sakaja, September 2024
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Nairobi County
