Laikipia traders clash with officers over market levy

Business at Rumuruti livestock market was yesterday disrupted after traders clashed with county askaris and Administration police officers. This follows a move by the county to increase charges for livestock bought from the main market. The administration raised the fee from Sh30 per goat to Sh90 while that of a cow rose from Sh100 to Sh300.

Last week, the county government ended the services of an auctioneer who was overseeing the running of the market and instead brought its own askaris to manage it. This did not gone well with the traders who said they were not consulted.

Nominated member of county assembly Rose Maintain called for more talks between the county government and traders to end the stalemate. Former Laikipia MP Ndiritu Muriithi also urged the county administration to consider the traders' sentiments. "It is a shame this is happening while we have leadership in place.There should have been more consultations," he said.