Babu Owino condemns Nairobi County's relocation of Marikiti traders

By Robert Mutasi 

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has sternly told off the Nairobi County Government against its recent move of transferring traders from the Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.

 Owino, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, released a statement through his verified social media handles terming the move retrogressive and liaising with the traders.

According to the County Government, the relocation is part of the development meant to decongest the Nairobi CBD.

 However, it has been strongly resisted by the traders, who claim the new market location is unsafe.

Owino said that reports also indicated that the traders transferred to Kangundo were attacked by locals, a factor that raises serious questions over their security.

"The Nairobi County Government should respect Marikiti traders. The traders were relocated to Kang'undo where they were attacked by the locals, and it's a security threat to insist on them going back there," Owino said.

In his passionate defence of the traders, Owino pointed out the economic struggle in which majority of Nairobians are experiencing. 

With increased levels of unemployment and inflation, many residents are struggling to survive.

To the traders in Marikiti, they are businesses that yield the only income that covers their rent, school fees, and basic needs for their families.

"Nairobians have no jobs, and whatever business they partake in to pay rent, school fees, and buy food should be respected," said the MP.

Owino also insinuated that there could be a hidden agenda for the relocation of the traders and asked them not to give in to any pressure that may lead to the forfeiting of their present trading grounds.

He insinuated that they are planning to take over the land, and a number of traders shared their sentiments in belief that space is targeted for building purposes.

"People of Marikiti don't accept, they want to grab that land. It doesn't work," Owino declared.

The MP's utterances have added fuel to an already hot debate over the relocation as many traders are now having second thoughts on whether the move was done in the interest of the traders.

While the County Government insists that space at the Kangundo Road Market is more spacious and better facilitated, the traders protest that they have been moved without prior consultation.

They also feel that the county has not given enough guarantees for their security at this new site.

With protests to the relocation still going on, Babu Owino has allied himself with the Marikiti traders, pleading that their views be put into consideration.

What the County Government of Nairobi will do, nobody knows, but for now, it's proving a contentious relocation.