Several people were injured on Friday May 17, 2024 after two factions of politicians clashed over a market project in Thika.
Supporters of Thika member of parliament (MP) Alice Ng’ang’a and Kamenu ward MCA Peter Mburu faced off over construction of Kiganjo market within Kamenu Ward, with both leaders claiming credit for the project.
Ng’ang’a who had led other MPs including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South), Elijah Njoroge ( Gatundu North) and Ngoliba ward MCA Joachim Njama in launching the market, said that the national government has set aside Ksh 55 million for the project.
She said that the project was a promise by President William Ruto to Kiganjo residents, adding that his administration would put up a decent facility for them to do their businesses.
She accused the Kiambu County Government led by Governor Kimani Wamatangi of trying to hijack the project, adding that earlier some hired goons had threatened to disrupt her meeting.
However, hell broke loose when Ng’ang’a led fellow MPs to officially ground break the project. They found the MCA holding a meeting at the land where the market is being built and his supporters had already subdivided the parcel and started putting up structures.
Supporters of the MCA started hurling stones at the MPs and Ng’ang’a’s supporters, forcing police officers to throw teargas and fire in the air.
An aide to Ng’ang’a was rushed to hospital with serious wounds on his head after being hit with a stone.
On Thursday, the Kamenu Ward MCA had spearheaded slots allocation to traders insisting that the market will be built by the county government to end trader’s woes.
Mburu called out unnecessary competition between the national and county government on construction of markets saying the function is a constitutional mandate of devolved units.
Earlier, Ichung’wa said that the market projects within Kiambu County are fully funded by the National Government with an aim of giving traders a conducive environment to work in and improve the region’s economy.
Story written by Gitau Wanyoike
