Kiambu Market to Hold Leadership Elections Following Trader Protests

Traders at Kangangi Market in Kiambu town will select new leadership in April after protests compelled county authorities to intervene and establish clear transition schedules for the market committee.
The declaration was issued by John Njoroge, Municipal Manager of Kiambu Municipality, who verified that the current market committee’s term had concluded and arrangements were being made to establish new leadership following market governance protocols.
In an official message to merchants, the municipality indicated a Transition Committee had been established to temporarily supervise market operations and coordinate affairs until a new committee is chosen and takes office.
“The municipality wishes to notify all traders at Kangangi Market that the current Market Committee’s term has concluded. To maintain market functionality during this transitional phase, a Transition Committee has been appointed,” stated Njoroge.
According to the announcement, verification of trader data and records will occur on March 25, 2026, as part of election preparations. This process seeks to guarantee that all authorized traders are properly registered and included in the voter roll before the election set for April 15, 2026.
The municipality encouraged all traders to cooperate with the verification process and actively engage in the election to establish a representative and effective market leadership.
The municipal action follows discontented Kangangi Market traders demonstrating publicly, demanding immediate dissolution of the current leadership, which they claimed had expired in January.
The traders criticized the county government for postponing elections despite legal mandates requiring the trade department to supervise market leadership elections.
According to trader Michael Njoroge, elections should have concluded by the end of February.
“We were required to have completed market leadership elections by February 28, but the county government had not scheduled a date. Instead, we were merely informed that the elections had been postponed,” he stated.
“We need new leadership because the current committee does not represent our interests despite numerous complaints about market issues.”
Kangangi Market serves approximately 3,000 traders who elect 15 committee members, who subsequently select an overall chairperson from among themselves.
Another trader, Mary Njeri, claimed the current committee had remained in office beyond its term and failed to protect traders’ interests.
She alleged some leaders had served four consecutive terms, which she asserted had impaired their ability to represent traders effectively.
“The leadership has remained in office excessively long. Some members have completed four terms and no longer act in traders’ best interests,” she said.
Traders also raised issues about the management of temporary trading spaces after the original Kangangi Market was demolished by national authorities to construct a modern market worth approximately Sh500 million.
Following demolition, traders were moved to temporary open spaces in Kiambu town.
However, some traders alleged that certain committee members exploited the relocation by selling trading spaces to outsiders for as much as Sh100,000, violating market constitution provisions.
They further accused the leadership of intimidation and unfair treatment toward traders who questioned market management practices.
Among the concerns were claims that traders opposing the committee experienced harassment, merchandise theft, and verbal abuse.
The traders also demanded return of market property they assert was unlawfully taken by committee members during demolition and relocation, including a water tank and market gate.
In response to the unrest, the municipal administration intervened to restore order and reassure traders that a transparent transition process would be implemented.
Through an official notice from the municipal manager, the current committee was effectively dissolved and a transition team appointed to manage market affairs until elections are finalized.
The municipality also invited traders to a consultation meeting scheduled for March 25, 2026 at Kiambu Community Hall beginning at 9:00 a.m.
During the meeting, officials will update traders on the progress of the ongoing market construction project, offer guidance on developing and adopting the market constitution, and outline procedures for upcoming elections.
The forum will also allow traders to present concerns and recommendations about market operations and service delivery.
“This meeting will provide a valuable platform for engagement between the municipality and traders to ensure Kangangi Market continues functioning in an organized, transparent and inclusive manner,” Njoroge stated.
County officials expressed hope that the upcoming elections will help restore trader confidence and strengthen governance at one of Kiambu town’s most active trading centers.