Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over the relocation of traders at Wakulima Market.
Speaking at a roadside rally at Wakulima Market, Gachagua said the market has been in existence for over 30 years and has been a source of livelihood for many city residents.
“Why is it that when we were looking for votes, there were no issues with the traders at the market? Why is it that after the election was won, then you blame traders for congestion in the CBD?” Gachagua posed.
The DP said he has asked Sakaja to hold talks with the traders with the view of finding solutions to the problem.
“I have respectfully asked the governor, without any arrogance, not to be a person who changes tune. I have asked him to sit down with the traders for talks,” he added.
Gachagua further said it is regretful that he is being labelled a tribalist over his stand about the future of the market.
“This market has all tribes. If Mt Kenya people are many in the market, I cannot be blamed. When the Mt Kenya people from the market were voting for you, why didn’t you complain that they were too many,” he stated.
On September 12, the trader clashed with the police as they resisted a move by the county to relocate them to Kangundo Road.
The traders had been served with an eviction notice and asked to relocate.
In the notice, potato, pineapple, oranges and onion traders had been asked to move to the newly opened Kangundo Road market.
This is in a bid to decongest the Central Business District to allow free flow of traffic and to provide parking space.
