Tension as MP and Wamatangi clash over market construction

Questions have been raised regarding the heavy presence of armed police officers at Ngoliba Trading Centre in Thika.

This is the location where Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and the Kiambu County Government are in a dispute over the construction of the market.

The row started last Thursday when the MP, accompanied by Ngoliba MCA Joachim Njama and Nominated MCA Susan Mburu, and supporters wearing pro-Ng’ang’a branded merchandise, launched the market.

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But the situation escalated on Tuesday afternoon when over 50 police officers, who have been guarding the disputed facility for days in support of the MP, fired teargas canisters at traders and locals, leaving some with injuries.

Patrick Wambua, a resident of Ngoliba, said he sustained injuries to his hands and back after being hit by a tear gas canister.

He claimed the chaos began last Thursday and called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to explain why armed police have been deployed to terrorise locals.

“The problem started on Thursday when the MP came and launched the market in the presence of heavy police presence and some rowdy individuals. Since then, dozens of police officers have been deployed to block traders and the county government from accessing the market. Today, we were attacked by the police with tear gas. We want answers from the minister on why he has allowed this,” Wambua told The Standard on Tuesday hours after the fracas.

Police contingents have been brought in from various stations, some more than 40 kilometers away, including Kinoo in Kikuyu, Githurai Kimbo in Ruiru, Karuri in Kiambaa, Gatundu North, and Kiamumbi in Kiambu Township sub-county.

County government officials insist that the Sh50 million market is a project by Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s administration. The administration placed a tender advertisement in September last year, and a contractor has already been identified.

“We did the advertisement and awarded the contract. We conducted public participation, showcased the design of the market to the traders, and confirmed to them that the money had already been budgeted for. But we are not surprised that someone has launched the market without our knowledge,” said Susan Gatwiri, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, which is responsible for the construction and operation of markets.

According to the tender document number “CGK/TITI/MARKETS/008/2024/2025,” dated September 20, 2024, and obtained by The Standard from the County Government of Kiambu’s official website, the facility is meant to be a “complex” market, with an estimated cost of Sh50 million.

The scope of work, as outlined in the design, includes a one-floor market comprising stalls for traders, an ICT hub, offices, and an ablution block.

But Ng’ang’a insists that it’s her project, maintaining that she will go ahead with its construction under the national government’s Economic Stimulus Programme.

Tender question

“This market, I am the one who has sought finances from the national government, and therefore, I am the one who is building it,” said the MP, who is now facing accusations of inviting heavily armed police officers to prevent the county government from accessing the facility.

Interestingly, the MP refers to a tender document from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development dated November 13, 2014, almost two months after the County Government of Kiambu had issued its own tender for the same facility.

The tender, titled “MLPWHUD/SUD/093/2024/2025- CLUSTER 90,” raises queries as to why the state department, under Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, issued a tender for a project that had already been advertised for construction by the county administration.

“Why did the national government place an advertisement for a market whose tender had already been issued by the County? Why is the Interior ministry sending police officers to block the county from accessing the market, and tear-gassing people? Whose interests are the police serving?” Kamenu MCA Peter Mburu wondered.