- The committee was also set to tour Gikomba and Dagoreti markets.
- Earlier on, Ngeno took issue with the delay in opening the Githurai market despite its completion.
Image: WILLISH ADUR
Members of a Parliamentary Committee were on Thursday forced to scamper for safety at Nairobi's Mathare area.
The MPs from the Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works Committee led by Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno were on an inspection tour of modern markets currently under construction in various parts of the city before Mathare youths turned chaotic.
The legislators who had just arrived at the site from Githurai encountered a hostile ground as some of the youths questioned why area MP Tom Kajwang was absent.
"You cannot come here without the presence of TJ who started this project," shouted one of the youth.
At that moment, the contractor was taking the members round the construction site.
Hell broke loose when efforts by some security aides accompanying the legislators tried unsuccessfully to calm the charged youths. They eventually succeeded in disrupting the exercise.
The committee was also set to tour Gikomba and Dagoreti markets.
Other members on the team were Nairobi woman representative Esther Passaris and John Waluke (Sirisia), Jane Wanyegi (Laikipia) among others.
Ngeno was yet to issue a statement with regard to the incident.
The Committee is also set to tour other parts of the country on a fact-finding mission following concerns over the delay in the completion of the projects before issuing a report.
Earlier on, Ngeno had taken issue with the delay in opening of the Githurai market despite its completion.
“We want the state department of public works to explain why the traders have not been allowed in…we understand the number of applicants is high compared to available stores and there are plans for the construction of phase two but that cannot be an excuse… these traders are suffering,” he said.
By the time of going to press, the MPs had embarked on their tour of Gikomba market.
The project that was launched in March 2022 is set to accommodate 305 traders.
During its launch, PS Charles Hinga said the market would consist of a main shed with 40 shops whose wall will serve as part of the market’s fence.
Some 263 stalls will be divided into fresh produce and clothes and wares sections.
In addition, the market will have two food courts for traders to sell meals to consumers in the area.
The market will also have a cold room for storage of perishable goods.
The eight-storey Gikomba market was to be opened to traders in September last year.