Marikiti Traders Vow to Halt Operations Over Eviction Notice

Tensions are rising at Wakulima Market, also known as Marikiti, after traders vowed to cease operations in protest against an eviction notice issued by the county government. The traders, many of whom have worked at the market for years, are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the order, which mandates their relocation to the Kangundo Road market.

The traders say that county officials arrived unannounced on Wednesday evening, instructing them to vacate the premises. According to Michael Wachira, a long-time trader at the market, the proposed relocation would leave many without jobs.

"Kangundo Road is already full. Forcing us to move there will mean most of us won't have a place to work. This market generates about Ksh.500,000 daily for the county. If they were thinking long-term, they could use that revenue to build a bigger market to accommodate us all," Wachira stated.

The traders also expressed frustration with the short notice they were given, saying it was impractical for them to relocate in such a short time frame. By Thursday morning, their frustration had boiled over into a protest, with demonstrators lighting fires and blocking key access roads.

Police were quickly deployed to the scene and used teargas to disperse the crowd, but tensions remain high as traders continue to call for the county government to reconsider the eviction.