Traders at Kangangi Market in Kiambu town will elect a new leadership in April following protests that forced the county administration to intervene and set clear timelines for the transition of the market committee.
The announcement was made by John Njoroge, the Municipal Manager of Kiambu Municipality, who confirmed that the term of the current market committee had expired and preparations were underway to elect a new leadership in accordance with market governance guidelines.
In an official communication to traders, the municipality said a Transition Committee had been appointed to temporarily oversee the running of the market and coordinate its affairs until a new committee is elected and assumes office.
“The municipality wishes to inform all traders operating at Kangangi Market that the term of the current Market Committee has come to an end. In order to ensure continuity of market operations during the transition period, a Transition Committee has been appointed,” said Njoroge.
According to the notice, validation of traders’ data and records will be conducted on March 25, 2026, as part of preparations for the elections. The process aims to ensure that all legitimate traders are properly registered and included in the electoral register ahead of the vote scheduled for April 15, 2026.
The municipality urged all traders to cooperate with the verification exercise and actively participate in the election process to ensure the establishment of a representative and effective market leadership.
The move by the municipality comes after disgruntled traders from the Kangangi Market took to the streets demanding the immediate dissolution of the current leadership, whose term they said had expired in January.
The traders accused the county government of delaying elections despite legal provisions requiring the department of trade to oversee market leadership polls.
According to trader Michael Njoroge, elections should have been conducted by the end of February.
“We were supposed to have completed market leadership elections by February 28, but the county government had not announced a date. Instead, we were only being told the elections had been adjourned,” he said.
“We want a new leadership because the current committee does not represent our interests despite our many complaints about issues affecting the market.”
Kangangi Market has approximately 3,000 traders who elect 15 committee members, after which the elected representatives choose an overall chairperson from among themselves.
Another trader, Mary Njeri, alleged that the current committee had overstayed in office and failed to defend traders’ interests.
She claimed some leaders had served for four consecutive terms, which she said had compromised their ability to represent traders effectively.
“The leadership has been in office for too long. Some members have served four terms and no longer act in the best interests of traders,” she said.
Traders also raised concerns about the handling of temporary trading spaces after the original Kangangi Market was demolished by the national government to pave the way for the construction of a modern market valued at approximately Sh500 million.
Following the demolition, traders were relocated to temporary open spaces within Kiambu town.
However, some traders alleged that certain committee members had taken advantage of the relocation by selling trading spaces to outsiders for as much as Sh100,000, contrary to the provisions of the market constitution.
They further accused the leadership of intimidation and unfair treatment toward traders who raised concerns about the management of the market.
Among the grievances raised were claims that traders who opposed the committee faced harassment, theft of their merchandise and abusive language.
The traders also demanded the return of market property they claim had been taken unlawfully by committee members during the demolition and relocation process, including a water tank and a gate belonging to the market.
In response to the unrest, the municipal administration stepped in to restore order and reassure traders that a transparent transition process would be undertaken.
Through the official notice issued by the municipal manager, the current committee was effectively dissolved and a transition team appointed to manage market affairs until elections are completed.
The municipality also invited traders to a consultative meeting scheduled for March 25, 2026 at Kiambu Community Hall starting at 9:00 a.m.
During the meeting, officials will update traders on the progress of the ongoing market construction project, provide guidance on the development and adoption of the market constitution, and outline the procedures for the upcoming elections.
The forum will also allow traders to present their concerns and suggestions regarding market operations and service delivery.
“The meeting will provide an important platform for engagement between the municipality and traders to ensure Kangangi Market continues to operate in an organized, transparent and inclusive manner,” Njoroge said.
County officials expressed optimism that the upcoming elections will help restore confidence among traders and strengthen governance at one of Kiambu town’s busiest trading centres.
