Kitengela market traders fight with police again

County askaris remove structures used by traders to barricade the road during a confrontation with the police Monday. RIGHT: Police officers patrol Kitengela market. [Photo: PETERSON GITHAIGA/STANDARD]

KAJIADO: Chaos erupted again in Kitengela after traders tried to force their way into the market that was recently closed indefinitely by the county government.

Trouble started when hundreds of traders, who have been selling their wares outside the market, started moving into the market, provoking the county government askaris to call for police reinforcement.

Lead by the officer in-charge of petty crimes Inspector John Kamau, the officers were forced to fire teargas to disperse the traders who were also pelting stones.

Kitengela Market was closed indefinitely by the Kajiado County government following three days of chaos two weeks ago after two rival groups started fighting over space.

The incident left scores of people injured and property worth millions of shillings destroyed.

Governor David Nkedianye and County Commissioner Kello Harsama later ordered everyone to leave the market as the county government worked on modalities on how to allocate space to the traders.

KEEP OFF

“We ordered this market to be closed two weeks ago until further notice and no one should be seen in or out of the market. I’m wondering who permitted the traders to start selling. We are holding several people who are assisting us with investigations so that we can get to the bottom of this matter, therefore, we are telling everyone to keep off the market,” Mr Harsama said.

Yesterday, many business premises near the market remained closed for fear of attacks as traders engaged police in running battles.

“I am assuring all the investors in this county that all is well with them. We are in control and this matter will be solved amicably. However, we want the police to investigate those who instigated the trouble by inciting the public against each other,” the governor said. Before it was closed, two groups disagreed on how to share space after the county government demolished the market last month.

Business people who have been selling their wares at the market started re-constructing their new stalls as allocated by the county officials but a group of women arrived at the market early in the morning and demanded to have their share of the stalls.

This did not go down well with those who had earlier been allocated space. The situation degenerated into a physical confrontation as traders tried to push away those who they perceived to be intruders.

A contingent of anti-riot police officers drawn from the General Service Unit, Administration Police, and their regular counterparts patrolled the area to restore calm. “We want everybody to have her share in a peaceful manner,” said Mary Seneta, the county woman representative.