Sukuma wiki trumps cemetery as Thika traders want graveyard shifted for business

 

More than 500 traders in Maguguni, Thika East, want a public cemetery  relocated to pave way for construction of a market.

They are seeking a change-of-user permit  but  it has not yet been granted yet and might not be approved.

The traders, who have been operating at Muguguni Centre enter along the Thika-Garissa Highway, were ejected by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) a month ago to avert conflict.

Over the weekend, the marketers stormed the three-acre cemetery land just along the Highway started subdividing it amongst themselves.

They said lack of enough space to trade their wares has impoverish them and most of them are unable to meet basic family needs, including house rent, school fees and food.

They said the 1.5 square kilometers  allocated for a market  at Matathia area is usually inaccessible due to its location and road network.

“Buyers decline to trek to Matathia because it’s a long distance. We therefore started trading our wares along the highway but we have been ejected by the authorities," trader Mary Muthoni said.

"We are facing an uphill task to provide for our families and that’s why we want the market built on the cemetery land near the highway,” she said.

Many families object to moving the the final resting  place of their loved ones and friendsl

Muthoni said traders already have  submitted a letter requesting a change-of-user  to the Kiambu county government, to change the land to commercial use.

“We have tried but we haven’t succeeded. We are pleading with our leaders, including the MCA and our MP, to come to our aid,” trader Grace Wanjiru said.

Ngoliba ward MCA Joachim Njama told journalists they have  initiated the process of changing the land use, noting that besides construction of a market, a police post will be put up to boost security in the area.

Njama said the cemetery will be relocated to two-acres of public land near Athi.

“Traders have suffered for a long time because the only market they have is far from the town and they hardly get customers. We want that land  to  be used for construction of a secondary school while we relocate the cemetery to another public parcel,” he said.

The ward rep said construction of the market near the  highway will enhance trade in the region and boost the area’s economy since it will be serving those heading to the Ukambani region and Garissa.

Thika town MP Alice Ng’ang’a who visited the traders pointed out that her office will hold public participation meetings and submit residents sentiments to the authorities.

“We will initiate the process of obtaining a change-of-user for this parcel as soon as possible and we anticipate the process will take us at least one month,” she she said.

Ng’ang’a said she she will lobby for resources to put up a modern market  to provide marketers an environment conducive to business.        BY THE STAR