Garissa activists raise alarm as private developer invades market

Human rights organisations and locals in Garissa have raised alarm after private developers invaded the ‘Soko Mugdi’ market.

Traders are being increasingly displaced as the developers erect multi-storey buildings to reap big from rented stalls in the public facility which already overflows with shops and street vendors.

The activists want the government and investigative agencies to establish whether the developer possesses the relevant documents.

Garissa County Human Rights Watch chairman Hassan Gumo said several buildings have been constructed without due adherence to legal and regulatory frameworks.

“These private developers have illegally grabbed the market to expand businesses. Their illegal exercise has negatively impacted the livelihoods of over 1,000 small traders who rely on this space,” Gumo said.

“As a result, many traders have been displaced and can no longer operate businesses. This has significantly affected their income and contributed to increased economic insecurity,” he added.

Mukhtar Dahir, a rights activist, said the new buildings were constructed without approval. He blamed county officials for worsening the problem.

“The civil society has carried out investigations and established rogue county officials are colluding with private developers,” he said.

Dahir said they would move to court to stop new structures from coming up.

“We will sue the municipal because the developer's actions undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent,” he said.

Mumina Hassan who sells groceries said she is among the 15 traders who received a vacation notice from a private developer.

“It is like we are in a lawless state. I have been operating in the market for the last 15 years. What is this greedy attitude? Where are we supposed to go? Who will defend the weak in the society,” she asked.

Another trader Ahmed Abdi linked the problem to the growing demand for space.

Many people frequent the market due to its fame and strategic location within the town centre.

Garissa municipality CEO Mohamed Hassan absolved the county of any blame and lashed out at the municipal council for leasing the market to private developers.

He said the municipality only collects revenue and efforts to restore sanity were regularly challenged in court.

“We have individuals who got transfers through a lease. We don’t have a hand in giving out any allotment letter to the private developers,” he said.

"I almost lost my right ear after I mobilised enforcement officers to stop a private developer who attacked me with a panga," he added.

However, developers who claimed they obtained title deeds from Ardhi House in Nairobi have threatened legal action against the municipality for attempting to forestall their projects.