Two feared dead, several injured as alleged supporters of MP, MCA clash in Thika

Reports indicate that two people are feared dead and several others injured after two factions clashed over a market project in Thika.

Alleged supporters of Thika MP Alice Ng'ang'a and Kamenu ward MCA Peter Mburu faced off over the construction of the 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’wah (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 Sh55 million for the project.

She said that the project was a promise by President William Ruto to Kiganjo residents that his administration would put up a decent facility for them to trade in.

However, hell broke loose when Ng'ang'a led fellow MPs to officially ground-break the project only to find the MCA holding a meeting at the land parcel where the market is being built and his alleged supporters had already subdivided the parcel and started putting up structures.

A confrontation ensued between alleged supporters of the two factions.

The alleged supporters started hurling stones at each other forcing police officers to throw teargas and fire in the air to scatter them.

Upon settling of the melee, two people were reported dead while several others escaped with injuries. 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 spearheaded slots allocation to traders insisting that the market will be built by the local government to end traders' woes.

Mburu called out unnecessary competition between the national and county governments on the construction of markets saying the function is a constitutional mandate of devolved units

Earlier, Ichung’wah said that the market projects within Kiambu County are fully funded by the National Government to give traders a conducive environment to work in and improve the region's economy.

He also rallied Kenyans to pay taxes for the sake of the country's economic growth noting that the National Assembly will put into consideration issues that are of national good while discussing and voting for the 2024/2025 Budget.