This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
On July 8, 2019, a tense standoff unfolded at Nairobi's City Market following Governor Mike Sonko's directive allowing small traders, including meat hawkers, to operate inside and in front of wholesale shops.
Wholesalers, led by Cyrus Kamundia Mathenge, shut their shops in protest, citing the negative impact of small traders on their business. They claimed to pay substantial revenue to the county and that the operation of small traders in front of their premises had severely affected their performance.
'We must have a talk with the county and everyone,' Kamundia stated. 'There is a big problem in this market. We pay huge taxes to the county government and we have invested a lot in these shops.'
Small traders, however, remained resolute, insisting they had been operating inside the City Market for decades and would not be intimidated by the governor's directive.
'Sonko told us to do our business inside here. We are going nowhere. We are also traders and we have responsibilities,' a small trader told Ghetto Radio News.
As tensions escalated, Governor Sonko directed the trade department to appoint a 7-member committee to investigate the matter and find a solution.
