How political wars have blocked traders from new Sh400m Githurai 45 market

The Sh400 million worth of Githurai market which President Ruto opened. [George Njunge, Standard]

During his tour of the Mt Kenya region in August 2023, President William Ruto opened the Sh400 million Githurai 45 Market in Kiambu County, more than a year after his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, completed the project.

The facility, with a capacity of about 1,200 traders, was opened following traders’ protests. Political meddling and attempts to tamper with the beneficiaries’ list, which had raised security concerns, were cited as reasons for the delay.

During the launch ceremony, Ruto asked Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to settle traders who had operated on roadsides for four years.

The list of beneficiaries was compiled during Governor James Nyoro’s tenure and deposited with the State Department of Housing.

However, traders have yet to move in one year since its opening. As per the World Bank financing conditions, the allocation of spaces was to be done using a pre-project list of genuine traders taken before construction.

On October 23, 2023, Wamatangi established a committee comprising of State Department of Housing officials, Department of Trade, elected market officials, police and provincial administration with instructions to use the initial list.

Two months later on December 6, 2023, the committee vetted traders at Kiambu National Polytechnic.

The following day, the vetted traders took over their slots inside the market.

On March 21, 2024, traders were to move in, but the exercise turned chaotic after goons, allegedly in the company of two MCAs, took over spaces in the market.

They also occupied a separate area where the second phase of the market was meant to accommodate traders who missed out on the first phase.

Sources linked the fight to a bid by some politicians to control two public toilets, each with a daily income of Sh10,000, a hotel on the fifth floor, and a daycare centre on the fourth floor, among the spaces yet to be allocated.

“The process—from vetting, allocation of slots, and time to move in—was good until some people sabotaged it,” said Jubilee Market Secretary Njoroge Thuo.

“On the day we were to move in the saboteurs came with goons who looted the contractor’s office, occupied the space for the second phase and until today, they are still charging public toilets, parking fees, and harassing innocent people,” he added.

Peris Wambui, popularly known as Wambui wa Githurai, who chairs Pamoja market, said the allocation was all-inclusive, and traders are contented and blamed the delay on political interference.

“It is wrong that some elected leaders have been hell-bent on frustrating the moving in of traders. They have been inciting some traders and hiring goons to cause chaos,” said Wambui.

However, the two MCAs defended themselves, saying they were not interested in the market.

“Since all the traders on the former list are our people, we decided to let them be. However, our governor has been unable to address the issue but as Kiuu MCA, I will not let people outside my ward infiltrate the market,” Zack Macharia said.

Donna Kendi said: “I have heard some people claiming I intend to occupy some stalls inside the market. Those are just rumours. I have no interest in public properties. All I want is real Githurai traders to get their slots.”

Kendi said that as long as the original list of Githurai traders is maintained, she has no problem

MPs critical of the Governor have been accused of using local politicians to frustrate the process.

“Some people want to grab space and use the process for political expediency. But the spaces will only go to the legitimate traders,” said Wamatangi.