Kangemi Market traders have opposed a proposal by the Ministry of Housing to temporarily relocate them to private land at Mashiara Park to pave the way for the construction of the Kangemi Modern Market.
The traders say moving them to land whose ownership is disputed could expose them to litigation and further land-related conflicts.
Under the proposed arrangement, the traders would operate from the Mashiara Park site until construction of the new Kangemi Modern Market is completed.
Kangemi MCA Hamisi Maleya accused land cartels of misleading the Government over the relocation process, insisting that traders support the modern market project but want the agreed procedures followed.
“We wish to be clear: we support the construction of the modern market and the President’s initiative. What we oppose is any departure from the agreed process,” Maleya said.
He questioned the decision to involve private land in the relocation arrangements, particularly where the property owner is said to hold valid ownership documents and a title deed.
“The involvement of private land raises legitimate questions, particularly where the owner holds valid ownership documents and a title deed. There are genuine reasons to believe that this could be a land-grabbing scheme orchestrated by this cartel,” Maleya said.
He called on relevant authorities to establish transparently how and why the private property was included in the relocation plans.
“We therefore urge all relevant authorities to establish, transparently and conclusively, how and why private land has entered into the relocation arrangements,” he added.
Maleya also raised concerns over the failure to profile and identify traders before the proposed relocation.
He said traders should first be properly registered, with their details documented and corresponding stall numbers assigned, to ensure that only genuine traders benefit from the new market.
“Relocating traders without first establishing who the genuine traders are, recording their details and assigning them corresponding stall numbers would create uncertainty and could undermine the very objective of the modern market project,” he said.
