- Gakoromone traders are demanding Ksh700,000 compensation for repairing a road near their market.
- Meru County has promised to assess the works and resolve the petition within three days.
- Traders have also called for better sanitation and security, warning they could withhold revenue payments.
Hundreds of traders at Gakoromone open air market in Meru town yesterday held a protest before peacefully trekking to the Meru County government headquarters to demand compensation of Ksh 700,000 they had used to renovate a road leading to the facility.
The angry protesters are currently based at Canaan market following their relocation by the devolved unit to pave way for the construction of a Ksh 1.2 billion ultra modern Gakoromone market.
They peacefully marched towards the headquarters, singing, dancing and blowing whistles while waving placards, as security officers watched from a distance in a rare type of demonstration.
They presented a petition and demanded to be addressed by Governor Isaac Mutuma.
The county government, led by County Secretary and Roads County Executive Committee Member David Bariu, responded quickly and promised to compensate them within three days after studying the petition and assessing the road.
The County Secretary said the building of the modern market could not commence immediately since they were still working in the old market, noting they had first to seek an alternative site before moving them.
“The administration is committed to providing all traders within Meru a peaceful and conducive environment to enable them to feed the residents and the neighbouring counties. We shall ensure the issue is resolved amicably within three days. The construction of the Ksh 1.2 billion market could not commence immediately, forcing us to look for an alternative site,” said the County Secretary.
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He said the roads connecting Canaan and Singapore markets, where all the traders were relocated, were repaired to facilitate seamless movement of vehicles and traders.
Bariu said he will personally lead a group of engineers to visit the site to assess the road and determine its value before making a final decision.
“The new building will inevitably transform into a model market for fresh produce in the entire East and Central Africa region once it is completed at a cost of Ksh 1.2 billion. Canaan and Singapore were both chosen unanimously before the closure of Canaan and Singapore markets. We have already modernised Canaan. The petition will be studied and evaluated before a final decision is taken. Governor Mutuma is patient and always listens to such grievances. It will be a promising market and role model in Kenya,” he said.
Bariu said the government position will be known by Monday next week, adding that the governor was concerned about the welfare of traders who supply fresh produce to several counties.
“Our governor cannot allow traders to suffer because they feed several counties, including Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, Embu and Laikipia,” he said.
The traders, led by Timothy Kinoti and Kairi, had staged protests at the county offices, threatening to stop paying taxes if their demands were not met.
They also want the county to improve sanitation facilities by renovating toilets to accommodate persons living with disabilities and provide adequate security at the market.
“We used to contribute our own money, built culverts, drainage, bought materials and murramed the road which was dilapidated. We now demand compensation. We also demand security,” they said.
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Glory Gakii, a trader, said they had been patient while waiting for the county to improve the road but were eventually forced to intervene after their fresh produce began going bad.
“We support Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia 100 per cent, but our fresh produce was rotting as we remained patient waiting for the road to be constructed. We could not afford making losses,” she said.
Gakii said traders and their leaders organised the rehabilitation in three phases, including construction and reopening of the alternative link road.
Bariu said Canaan market had since received floodlights, shades and murramed sections both inside and outside the market.
Timothy Kinoti had threatened to incite traders against paying any cess to the devolved unit until their grievances are resolved.
“We won’t pay any revenue including mitumba until our issues are addressed. We want to hold round table consultations with the County leadership to look for a lasting solution. Women were forced to contribute with some using capital or borrowing from siblings,” said Kinoti.
By John Majau
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