Eldoret 64 Market Row: Traders Threaten to Block Opening Over Stall Allocation

Tensions are mounting at Eldoret’s newly constructed 64 Ultra Modern Market after traders who previously operated at Kahoya Market protested over the allocation of stalls, accusing the vetting committee of sidelining genuine business owners in favour of alleged brokers and political loyalists.

The traders, led by Huruma Ward MCA and Minority Chief Whip Kimani Wanjohi, have demanded that those who operated at the former market be given first priority in the allocation of stalls before the new facility is officially opened.

The group has appealed directly to President William Ruto to intervene and convene a meeting with the affected traders, warning that opening the market without addressing their grievances could trigger confrontations.

Speaking at Kahoya Market, Wanjohi said the construction of the new facility was intended to provide a modern trading space for business people who were displaced when the previous market was closed.

He recalled that the closure of the old market caused considerable hardship among traders, many of whom depended entirely on their daily earnings to support their families and repay loans they had taken to sustain their businesses.

According to Wanjohi, some traders experienced severe financial and emotional distress following the closure, with some reportedly dying after struggling to cope with the pressure.

He said the traders had been given the understanding that those who previously operated at Kahoya Market would receive first priority when the new facility was completed.

Wanjohi expressed disappointment that the allocation process had allegedly failed to honour that understanding, leaving many former traders uncertain about whether they would return to their businesses.

“We are here at Kahoya Market because we are not happy with the way stalls are being allocated at the new 64 Ultra Modern Market. When the old market was closed, the President intervened and promised to construct a market that would accommodate the traders,” Wanjohi said.

He maintained that the purpose of building the new market was to restore the livelihoods of the people who had been displaced, arguing that the completion of the facility should not become another source of hardship for the original traders.

The MCA said he deliberately declined to participate in the vetting exercise because he wanted the former occupants to be given first priority before other applicants were considered.

“I did not participate in the vetting because I wanted those who were removed from the previous market to be given first priority. It is unfortunate that more than 3,000 people could be left out while people who were not operating there are allegedly being considered for stalls,” he said.

Wanjohi questioned the criteria used to identify beneficiaries, claiming that some of those who had been allocated stalls were not genuine traders but individuals associated with politicians.

He further alleged that bloggers and political supporters who were unfamiliar with the people who previously operated at the market had been included in the allocation process.

The MCA also accused some individuals involved in the vetting process of acting as brokers, claiming that the exercise had failed to adequately recognise the interests of the traders who had occupied the old market.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the vetting committee had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of publication.

MCA Accuses Officials of Interference in Vetting Process

Wanjohi further raised concerns about the alleged involvement of a trade director in the stall allocation process, claiming that the official had previously been linked to controversies surrounding the market.

He accused the individual of interfering with the process and warned that the traders would not accept any arrangement that required them to purchase stalls that they believed should have been allocated fairly.

The MCA said the traders would resist attempts to turn the allocation process into a commercial undertaking that would force genuine business owners to pay brokers or other intermediaries to secure space.

“We will not allow the selling of stalls. Those who were operating at the previous market must be given first priority. We will not accept a situation where people who are not business owners are given stalls while the genuine traders are left out,” he said.

Wanjohi insisted that the new market was intended to serve the entire trading community, including those who had been operating outside the former facility and other traders seeking opportunities to earn a living.

However, he maintained that such considerations should not override the interests of the people who were displaced when the old market was closed.

He urged the President to engage the affected traders before the facility is opened, saying a meeting would provide an opportunity for both sides to present their concerns and agree on a fair allocation process.

“We are telling President William Ruto to call us for a meeting before the market is opened. If the market is opened without consulting us and addressing our concerns, it could bring chaos,” Wanjohi warned.

The MCA said the traders were committed to peaceful coexistence and pointed out that the market brought together people from different communities who had conducted business together for years.

He called for an inclusive process that would protect the livelihoods of former occupants while ensuring that the market serves its intended purpose of supporting economic activity in Eldoret.

Traders Say They Have Been Discriminated Against

Simon Kimani, a representative of the affected business people, said the traders were unhappy with the manner in which stalls had reportedly been allocated at the new market.

Kimani said President Ruto's intervention and promise to construct a modern market had raised hopes that traders displaced from the previous facility would eventually return to their businesses under improved conditions.

He argued that the reported exclusion of former occupants had undermined those expectations and left genuine traders feeling abandoned after years of uncertainty.

“We are not happy with what is happening at the new 64 Market. The President promised to construct a market that would accommodate everyone, but it is unfortunate that the genuine business people who were using the previous market are now being discriminated against,” Kimani said.

He appealed to the national government to investigate the complaints and ensure that the allocation process reflects the interests of the traders who had operated at Kahoya Market before its closure.

Kimani maintained that the affected business people were not opposed to the construction of the modern facility but wanted assurances that they would not be pushed out of the businesses they had built over the years.

He called for dialogue between the government, the market management and the former traders, saying the dispute could be resolved if the allocation process was reviewed transparently.

Former Trader Esther Munene Demands Fair Allocation

Esther Munene, who said she previously operated at the old market, also criticised the allocation process, accusing those responsible of failing to honour the expectations created when the traders were displaced.

Munene said the former occupants had been assured that a new market would be constructed to provide them with a better working environment after the old facility was closed.

She expressed disappointment that, with the new market now complete, some of the people who had depended on the former facility were allegedly struggling to secure stalls.

According to Munene, the affected traders had endured financial difficulties while waiting for the promised market, making their reported exclusion from the allocation process particularly painful.

“We were told that another market would be built for us. Now that it is complete, we are being subjected to games, and people who were not genuine business owners are being given stalls,” Munene said.

She warned that the traders would not accept the opening of the facility without a satisfactory resolution of their concerns.

Munene appealed to President Ruto to intervene personally, arguing that the new market should restore the livelihoods of displaced traders rather than create further uncertainty.

She said the traders expected the government to demonstrate fairness by ensuring that those who previously occupied the market were considered before new applicants.

Penina Chepchumba Vows Traders Will Return Together

Another affected trader, Penina Chepchumba, said the former occupants were united in their demand to be recognised in the allocation process.

Chepchumba maintained that traders who had been displaced from the old market should not be expected to stand aside while people who had not previously operated there were allowed to occupy the new facility.

She said the traders had endured the consequences of the closure together and expected to return under an arrangement that prioritised the original occupants.

“We will enter the new market together, just as we were chased out together. We will not allow other people to go inside when they were not among those who operated at the previous market,” Chepchumba said.

She insisted that the affected business people would continue pressing for a solution before the market is officially opened.

Her remarks reflected the determination of the former traders to have their grievances addressed collectively, with the group warning that the opening of the facility without an agreement could heighten tensions.

Calls for President Ruto to Intervene

The dispute places renewed attention on the management of the new 64 Ultra Modern Market and the process used to identify traders who will occupy its stalls.

For the affected business people, the central issue is whether the new facility will provide an opportunity to rebuild the livelihoods disrupted by the closure of the former market or whether they will be forced to seek alternative trading spaces.

The traders say they want the government to clarify the criteria used during vetting, explain how beneficiaries were selected and establish whether former occupants were adequately considered.

They have also demanded that the authorities investigate allegations of political interference and the involvement of brokers in the allocation process.

The complaints raise broader questions about transparency in the distribution of public trading facilities, particularly where construction projects are intended to support small-scale traders and other vulnerable business owners.

Wanjohi and the affected traders have maintained that they are not opposed to the development of a modern market but want the benefits of the project to reach the people whose businesses were disrupted when the former facility was closed.

They have urged President Ruto to convene an urgent meeting with the traders and the officials responsible for the allocation process before the market is opened.

The group says it remains committed to finding a peaceful solution but insists that the government must first address the reported exclusion of former occupants.

As pressure mounts, the focus is now on the relevant authorities to respond to the allegations, clarify the allocation criteria and determine whether the concerns raised by the former traders can be resolved before the new market begins operations.