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 commodities such as fish, beef, chicken, and pork.
Kamundia Mathenge, owner of Kamundia Butchery, stated that they had decided to resume normal operations as they charted a way forward.
However, Mathenge clarified that they had not reached an agreement with the hawkers and had opened their shops because the matter had been politicized.
"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 stated that they did not have any problems with their counterparts and 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.
