Traders in Kitale have raised concerns over confusion surrounding the allocation of stalls at the Masinde Muliro ultra-modern market after President William Ruto discredited an earlier process conducted by the Trans Nzoia County Government.
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Trans Nzoia chairman Titus Kilong’i warned that the conflicting developments risked disadvantaging genuine traders who had operated in Kitale for years, calling on the national and county governments to clarify their respective roles in the allocation exercise.
Kilong’i questioned the involvement of national government officials in allocating the stalls, arguing that trade is a devolved function and that the county government would ultimately manage the facility and collect revenue.
“Did the county commissioner build this market so that he stands in to allocate the market? And after allocating it, is he the one going to collect revenue? Does the law allow him?” he posed.
He urged both levels of government to respect their constitutional mandates and resolve the dispute through established procedures, warning that continued uncertainty was hurting traders as the festive season approaches.
Kilong’i said the chamber had participated in an earlier exercise to identify genuine beneficiaries through a market survey and profiling process conducted by an allocation committee appointed by the governor.
The exercise, he said, uncovered inconsistencies in the names submitted for allocation, including cases where one individual appeared several times across different markets.
“We conducted a market survey and profiled the business people. We discovered that some names were overlapping, with one person appearing up to eight times in different markets,” he said.
He explained that market leaders had been invited to scrutinise the proposed list and raise complaints with the relevant authorities before a final list of beneficiaries was agreed upon.
However, Kilong’i claimed that confusion emerged after allocation letters were issued, with competing groups laying claim to stalls at the facility.
He said some traders who had previously received allocations had since died, relocated to rural areas or abandoned their businesses, creating opportunities for other individuals to claim the spaces.
The KNCCI chairman also alleged that some people posing as market leaders had collected money from traders by promising to secure them stalls.
He challenged those occupying the new market to demonstrate that they were genuine traders who had operated in Kitale before the facility was established.
“Let the traders who have served in the streets of Trans Nzoia occupy their rightful spaces. We cannot bring in strangers while the people who have been doing business here are left out,” he said.
Kilong’i warned that the uncertainty surrounding the allocation process was undermining traders’ livelihoods and creating an unfavourable business environment.
“We are being asked to pay taxes, yet there is confusion and we are being subjected to intimidation. How are we going to survive?” he asked.
He further cautioned that political disagreements between leaders could discourage investors and disrupt business operations in Trans Nzoia, urging the two levels of government to prioritise stability and service delivery.
“As a business person, I maintain neutrality. But I would wish the same from the government. We need a conducive environment for people to do business,” he said.
Kilong’i called for dialogue involving the national government, county government, market leaders and affected traders to resolve the dispute and establish a transparent allocation process.
