Traders at Kiandutu Market in Thika Constituency are caught in the middle of a political tug-of-war regarding a much-needed KSh 50 million upgrade project.
Fearing that the project might be held up due to political wrangling, the traders are demanding clear communication on who will be responsible for construction – the National Government or the Kiambu County Government. They have endured harsh conditions for years, including clogged drainage, overflowing garbage, lack of proper shade, and inadequate sanitation facilities, all of which have driven away customers and caused significant financial losses.
Frustrated by the ongoing dispute, a group of traders led by Sinai Kamau, chairperson of the Kiandutu Informal Business Community, marched to the office of Deputy County Commissioner James Wanyoike and presented a petition seeking resolution to the dispute and swift implementation of the upgrade.
The petition was addressed to a wide range of officials, including the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Governor Kimani Wamatangi, MP Alice Ng’ang’a, Senator Karungo Thang’wa, Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha, and Township Ward MCA Kennedy Mwangi.
Traders maintain that the market upgrade was a direct promise made by President William Ruto and should be undertaken by the National Government. Kamau further expressed concern that the County Government only consulted with a select group of wealthier garment traders, neglecting the over 1,000 small-scale traders who operate in the market. They fear losing their stalls if the County manages the project.
Traders James Kimani and Jacinta Syombua urged both Governor Wamatangi and MP Ng’ang’a to set aside their political differences and collaborate on the project’s implementation. They suggested that the National Government could construct the market and then hand it over to the County for management.
Adding to the confusion, MP Ng’ang’a recently announced the project’s commencement, claiming the National Government had allocated KSh 50 million. In contrast, Governor Wamatangi stated his administration had set aside KSh 25 million for a one-story market as part of a larger KSh 150 million slum upgrade initiative. This initiative includes infrastructure improvements, sanitation facilities, and a social hall.
The conflicting claims and lack of transparency regarding the project’s ownership and timeline have left Kiandutu Market traders in a state of uncertainty. They yearn for a modern and functional marketplace and urge authorities to prioritize their needs above political gamesmanship.
