Tension as Toi market traders criticise kanjos deployment

Toi Market traders now want Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to conduct a public participation exercise amid plans to deploy city council askaris to provide security at the market.

The market’s chairman Kenneth Jumba on Wednesday said the move to send some few kanjos without their involvement earlier this week has caused tension and suspicions.

This follows a recent fire incident that tragically claimed the lives of four people including a child.

"We know Governor Sakaja wants to help us but the best way is for him to bring those askaris to a forum to be attended by all traders and their representatives and inform them that these will be the people who will be providing security at the market," Jumba said.

He stated that this would give the traders confidence that their properties would be secured.

He said already, they have internal mechanisms in place to prevent possible cases of arson.

"We've had tension at the market after officers claiming to be from the city council came on Monday evening but disappeared when we asked them for information," he stated.

The fire that broke out in early August razed the market to the ground leaving thousands of traders counting losses.

Sakaja, who donated 5,000 iron sheets to the traders revealed that the county government has allocated 100 million shillings for the reconstruction of the market.

"Our youth who have trained as constables will now start providing security here. Those who have been given contracts to secure the market must finish then we allow city council men and women to come in," Sakaja announced as he addressed traders

"I will personally support you to ensure that Toi Market is rebuilt and no one is displaced."

The funds will also be used to erect a perimeter wall around the market, a project that will be overseen by county officers in collaboration with the local community.