Eugine Wabwile 
TANDAO MEDIA
Tensions are rising between Nairobi County officials and city market traders following allegations of a covert plan to repossess market stalls during the December holiday season.
Irungu Nyakera, patron of the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party and a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has accused the county government of orchestrating a scheme to reclaim stalls under the guise of a data collection exercise. The operation, which began on December 8, 2025, targeted several markets across the city.Traders say the timing of the exercise was suspicious, as many had closed their businesses to spend time with their families during the festive period.
According to Nyakera, the move was calculated to catch stall owners off guard, allowing county officials to label unattended spaces as “ghost stalls” and mark them for repossession.The Nairobi Market Traders’ Association, which represents thousands of vendors, has formally protested the exercise. In a letter dated December 22 and addressed to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, the association expressed deep concern over the lack of transparency and consultation.“There was no official disclosure on the exercise, its scope, or its intentions regarding the collection of personal information and trader details. This is highly suspect, conducted in bad faith, and illegal,” the letter stated.
Signed by Association Chairman Moses Wenani, Secretary Samwel Mundara, and Treasurer Samuel King’ori, the letter further criticized the county for failing to notify stall owners in advance. The association claimed that some employees were mistakenly registered as stall owners, while legitimate owners were listed as sub-letters, creating confusion and potential conflict.“The exercise is going to bring conflict and confusion in the market and affect order and smooth operations as stipulated in county laws. This can turn out to be chaotic,” the association warned.
The traders are demanding an immediate suspension of the exercise until proper consultations are held and clear guidelines are issued.As of the time of publication, Nairobi County officials had not issued a response to the allegations.
