This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 19, 2019, a Kajiado court convicted 37 hawkers who had been involved in the destruction of the wall of the upcoming Sh120 million Kitengela market.
They were each fined Sh50,000 or face six months in jail for malicious destruction of public property and incitement to violence.
The hawkers had engaged in running battles with police on September 18 and 19, 2019, and were also accused of stealing bags of cement and metal bars from the project contractor's store.
Some of the convicts are also accused of mugging passers-by and looting shops, especially those that stock mobile phones.
Kajiado Trade Executive Alvin Kimani stated that the remaining hawkers in the streets were driven to the stadium relocation site following a court order issued several months ago.
“Those still in the streets are being incited by some political operatives and we shall not be intimidated or blackmailed. The new market will not be sabotaged by politicians. We have said all traders will operate from one site until the market is complete,” said the county minister.
