Chaos and traffic disruption erupted Thursday morning along Jogoo Road and Ladhies as Wakulima Market (Marikiti) traders took to the streets in protest.
The protests were a result of an eviction notice issued by the Nairobi City County Government for the traders to relocate them to Kangundo Road market.
Traffic in and out of Nairobi city centre from parts of Eastlands was paralysed due to the City Hall’s decision which saw hundreds of traders lit bonfires and blocked sections of Haile Selassie Avenue, Landhies Road and Jogoo Road as they battled county inspectorate officers who were on the ground to enforce the orders of Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In a notice dated September 10, 2024, all potato, pineapple, oranges and onion traders on and around Wakulima were told to relocate immediately.
“This brings to your attention the Nairobi City County Government’s decision to decongest the Nairobi Central Business District for smooth vehicle traffic and human flow,” reads the notice.
“It has been decided that all potato, pineapple, oranges and onion traders operating outside and inside the market relocate to Kangundo Road Market, where there is spacious trading space and ample parking for business. This notice takes effect immediately,” it reads further.
The notice was from Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali.
The drama began at 4am when district askaris, popularly known as kanjos, arrived to evict traders who had spilled out of the two markets and were selling fresh produce on the roadsides – disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.
The traders, who sell fruits and vegetables— pineapples, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, onions among others— occupy large sections of Haile Selassie Avenue, causing massive traffic jams on the busy road.
Their encroachment has made Muthurwa and Marikiti areas prone to road accidents involving pedestrians, as muggers, pickpockets and other criminals take advantage of the congestion and chaos to steal from commuters.
In 2019, traders at Wakulima market were set to relocate to pave way for the construction of a new road.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) said that the traders will be relocated to the new Wakulima market along Kangundo Road which is complete.
The flyover was supposed to link Enterprise Road to Central Business District to ease traffic on Mombasa Road.
The drama has cast a spotlight on the over Sh500-million Kangundo-Road Market that has remained unoccupied since it was completed seven years ago.
Built during Governor Mike Sonko’s era, the market is one of the many white elephant projects that cost taxpayers billions of shillings but remain unoccupied and generate little or no revenue for City Hall.
This is not the first attempt to relocate the traders from the city centre to Kangundo Road.
During a recent visit to Kangundo Road Market, Mr Sakaja said his administration would give a time frame of two weeks to traders in the market who had not occupied their stalls.
“I don’t want to see the game that has been happening there. That market is such a huge investment,” he said.
“You will decide what goes to Marikiti in the morning but we will decide what comes to Kangundo Road— be it potatoes, cabbages, at least three items that will not be received in town will be received here. We must have that balance,” he said.
The market has two floors and can accommodate 420 business premises including a health clinic and an external parking of three acres.
The flyover was captured as a missing link and a priority project in the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan 2030 (NIUPLAN).
