Kitale Market Traders Given 24 Hours to Vacate Stalls Days After Ruto’s Handover

Market traders in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, are facing fresh uncertainty following reports that stall owners have been ordered to pack their belongings and leave within 24 hours, days after President William Ruto officially opened the new Masinde Muliro Market.

The reported notice comes amid a growing dispute over the allocation of stalls and the management of the newly opened market. The disagreement has brought President Ruto and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya into a public political contest over the project.

Ruto officially opened the market on October 16, 2026, saying the national government had helped complete the project after construction stalled. He also announced financial support for traders who had been displaced to allow the construction work to take place.

The market has 2,980 trading spaces intended to provide traders with a better environment for conducting business.

However, uncertainty has continued over who should receive the stalls and how the allocation process should be handled. Some traders have raised concerns about whether long-serving business owners will be allowed to continue earning a living at their existing locations.

Governor Natembeya has opposed the manner in which the market was launched and questioned the allocation process. He has argued that the county government played a major role in constructing the facility and should be involved in decisions concerning its management.

The governor has also said he does not intend to remove traders who are already operating outside the new market. He urged those who secured stalls inside the facility and those continuing to trade at their current locations to coexist peacefully.

The dispute has affected normal business activities in Kitale, with reports of heavy police deployment and some traders keeping their businesses closed because of uncertainty and tension.

For small-scale traders, the situation raises serious concerns about their income and the ability to provide for their families. Many depend on daily sales to pay rent, buy food and meet other household expenses.

A sudden eviction could leave affected traders struggling to find alternative business locations, especially if they have not been allocated space inside the new market.

The dispute has also raised questions about cooperation between the national and county governments in managing public projects.

As the situation develops, traders will be hoping for clear communication from the relevant authorities and a fair solution that protects their livelihoods.

source:https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19uVJGc6Dk/

Eddahkaetuai feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com