Ruto-Natembeya Row Deepens as 2,700 Kitale Traders Face Eviction From Newly Opened Market

Over 2,700 traders at the Masinde Muliro Market in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, have been thrust into turmoil after the county government issued a strict 24-hour eviction notice ordering them to clear out.

The sudden directive follows a clash between President William Ruto and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over control of the multi-storey facility.

County officials declared current occupations illegal due to the absence of a formal Occupation Certificate and legitimate county allocation letters.

The standoff intensified shortly after President Ruto presided over an official opening ceremony, ushering thousands of traders into stalls that county executive officers insist were allocated outside legal procedures.

Governor Natembeya’s administration moved swiftly to nullify the state-led handover, pointing out that the market remains a devolved asset initiated and managed by the county government.

County authorities warned that unauthorized occupants who fail to clear the premises face enforcement action and stall re-securing at their own expense.

This confrontation exposes deep political friction as Governor Natembeya publicly calls out executive interference and unfulfilled financial pledges.

The governor’s Tawe movement has consistently challenged national administration overreach, transforming local development projects into intense battlegrounds.

By asserting devolved authority over the flagship trading complex, county handlers have effectively blocked executive efforts to claim credit for regional infrastructure projects.

Ultimately, the dispute at Masinde Muliro Market highlights the volatile dynamic between national executive leadership and defiant county governors ahead of the 2027 General Election.

As heavily armed security units and water cannons monitor the market, stranded small business owners remain caught between conflicting jurisdictions.

How this high-stakes standoff plays out will test the boundaries of constitutional devolution and shape political alignments across Western Kenya and the North Rift.

Source: https://peopledaily.digital/news/2700-traders-face-eviction-from-kitale-market-as-ruto-natembeya-feud-escalates

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