Natembeya Orders Over 2,700 Traders Out of Masinde Muliro Market Days After Ruto’s Opening

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has ordered more than 2,700 traders to vacate Masinde Muliro Market within 24 hours, escalating controversy surrounding the allocation of trading spaces at the facility.

The directive comes just days after President William Ruto officially opened the market, which was expected to provide traders with improved working conditions and expand commercial activities in the region.

The governor’s order has raised questions about the allocation process and the circumstances under which traders were assigned spaces at the newly opened facility.

According to remarks attributed to Gumo, the traders allocated spaces at the market are unfamiliar to local stakeholders.

“Allocated traders are strangers to us,” Gumo said, raising concerns about the identities of those selected to occupy the market.

The dispute has placed the allocation of trading spaces at the centre of the controversy, with questions emerging over whether the process adequately considered traders who had previously operated in the area.

The market’s opening was expected to boost business activities and provide traders with a more organised environment in which to conduct their businesses. However, the latest developments threaten to disrupt trading activities and leave hundreds of business owners uncertain about their next steps.

The 24-hour notice also puts pressure on affected traders to make urgent arrangements while the dispute over the allocation of spaces continues.

The controversy comes amid broader concerns over the management of public markets, including transparency in the allocation of stalls and the need to protect the interests of small-scale traders.

Further clarification from the county government regarding the reasons for the eviction order, the disputed allocations and the future of the affected traders will be crucial in determining how the matter is resolved.

The developments have cast a shadow over the market’s recent opening, with attention now shifting to the county administration’s next steps and the fate of the more than 2,700 traders affected by the directive.

Source:https://www.facebook.com/reel/1134906682291953/

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