Market stalls flattened in land dispute

Traders in Kongowea market Mombasa County clear away blocks from a perimeter wall which was broken down on Sunday night over a land tussle on this photo taken on 22nd September 2014. PHOTO | KEVIT ODIT

What you need to know:

  • They went on the rampage and attempted to burn down a church, which is separated from the market by a brick wall. The heavy presence of anti-riot police officers prevented further chaos.
  • “When I asked the Kisauni police boss later, he told me that the church had asked for security for its people during demolition of the stalls,” she said.

Hundreds of traders at the Kongowea Market Monday woke up to a rude shock, following the demolition of 100 stalls.

The assistant county commissioner in charge of Kisauni, Ms Margaret Mwaniki, said a gang of goons descended on the market at night and flattened the perimeter wall and the stalls.

Traders started flocking to the market in the wee hours, only to discover that they had been dealt a big blow.

They went on the rampage and attempted to burn down a church, which is separated from the market by a brick wall. The heavy presence of anti-riot police officers prevented further chaos.
It also took Ms Mwaniki and Kongowea Ward representative Jabes Oduor to calm down the traders.

The principal of Pwani International Christian College, located within the church compound at Kengeleni, declined to comment on the issue.

Addressing the traders, Ms Mwaniki said she had no prior knowledge of the “invasion” and only learnt about it after the mayhem.

“When I asked the Kisauni police boss later, he told me that the church had asked for security for its people during demolition of the stalls,” she said.

The official urged the traders to remain calm as the matter would be sorted out by the church authorities, the market committee and the county government.

“Governor Hassan Joho came here at one time and the leaders agreed with the church that there should be no eviction of traders or demolitions. The land dispute should be amicably resolved,” said Ms Mwaniki.