Kangemi Ward MCA Hamisi Maleya with Traders at Kangemi Social Hall /HANDOUTKangemi Market traders have opposed a relocation plan by the Ministry of Housing to move them to private land to pave way for the Kangemi Modern Market Project, saying it will expose them to litigation and land disputes.
The traders have been asked to temporarily relocate to private land at Mashiara Park until the new Kangemi Modern Market is completed.
Kangemi MCA Hamisi Maleya claims land cartels are misleading the government.
"We wish to be clear: we support the construction of the modern market and the President’s initiative. What we oppose is any departure from the agreed process," Maleya said.
"Further, the involvement of private land raises legitimate questions, particularly where the owner holds valid ownership documents and a title deed. There are genuine reasons to believe that this could be a land-grabbing scheme orchestrated by this cartel. We therefore urge all relevant authorities to establish, transparently and conclusively, how and why private land has entered into the relocation arrangements."
"We are equally concerned that the profiling and identification of traders has not been undertaken as agreed. Relocating traders without first establishing who the genuine traders are, recording their details and assigning them corresponding stall numbers would create uncertainty and could undermine the very objective of the modern market project," Maleya added.
According to the traders, cartels have hijacked the process and now want to force them onto private land without any agreement with the owner.
Kangemi Harambee Market Association leader Wamaingi said they had not been consulted by the Housing Ministry despite being the main stakeholders.
"We are only asking the Ministry not to use cartels to plan for us. We do not oppose the construction of the modern market, but taking us to disputed private land without amenities is a slap in the face and will hurt our businesses," he said.
