Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a directive on the Wakulima Market saga following the clash between police and the traders who resisted evictions and participated in strikes on Thursday.
Nairobi County was seeking to relocate traders from Wakulima Market to Kangundo Market and had served them with an eviction notice that expired on Tuesday this week.
Now, the Deputy President has issued a counterintuitive proposal asking the Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja to suspend the rules or put evictions on hold and allow time for talks between county government officials and the traders from the market.
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“My younger brother Governor Johnson Sakaja, traders from Wakulima Market in Nairobi County, have called me and reminded me of the undertaking you and I jointly gave them in July 2022 as I campaigned for you in Muthurwa,” DP Rigathi Gachagua said in a statement on X. “We gave a commitment that our Administration will never disrupt their lives or undermine their economic activities.”
The DP added: “Kindly, do consider having a sitting with the leadership of the market to agree on whatever changes your Government desires without adversely affecting their livelihoods.”
Earlier on, the Nairobi City County, through County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, had defended the eviction, saying it was necessary to address critical health, waste management, and law enforcement concerns.
He also said Wakulima Market is designed for 1,200 traders but has over 3,600, and relocating them to Kangundo will decongest the Central Business District to allow free flow of traffic and provide ample parking spaces.
However, the DP said, “Our Constitution provides for public participation before any major decisions that have a serious impact on the welfare of our citizens are taken.”
The DP is urging Governor Sakaja to listen to the traders as they trusted him with their votes.
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