This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
Normal business has resumed at City Market in Nairobi, a day after a standoff between stall owners and traders selling without shops led to a disruption of operations.
According to a spot check by the Kenyan Nation on Tuesday morning, all shops that were closed on Monday had reopened, and customers were streaming in to buy various commodities, including fish, beef, chicken, and pork.
Kamundia Mathenge, owner of Kamundia Butchery, stated that his business had resumed normal operations as they charted a way forward.
However, Mathenge clarified that the decision to reopen was not a result of an agreement with the hawkers, but rather a desire to avoid politicization of the issue.
"We have decided to open but are still consulting as a group on what to do next. Our fears are that the issue has been politicized and could lead to anarchy as a result of misrepresentation of facts," Mathenge said.
On the other hand, the Kenyanam Lake Fish Dealers Association expressed no issues with their counterparts and stated that they would conduct business as usual.
"As you can see, they have opened, and we are also going on with our business. There is no bad blood between us," said Titus Odhiambo, a former leader of the association.
