One person was seriously injured and goods of unknown value destroyed in a protest by in Nairobi on Tuesday morning.
The traders accused the county government of licensing their suppliers to operate in the same market, taking away their customers.
“These people have decided to turn a parking lot into a market and allowed our suppliers to operate there. Instead of selling to us directly, they are selling to our customers at wholesale prices," a trader John Njogu said.
"Where do they expect us to get customers?"
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The traders destroyed fresh produce and blocked roads leading to the market, causing a huge traffic jam on Limuru Road and parts of Parklands.
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But trade executive Ann Othoro told the Star on phone that the county did not licence the traders to operate in the area.
“We issued three orders to the suppliers because the land they are using is not meant for a market. But they refused to move and took us to court,” Othoro said.
She said the suppliers refused offers by the county for an alternative place to operate and were using courts to intimidate the county and traders, with the aim of grabbing the land.
Othoro said a county officer who was in charge of the market was suspended three months ago after traders complained that she was colluding with the suppliers to grab the land.
“They have refused to go to Muthurwa and Wakulima markets. We have told the court the land is not meant for a market,” she said.
City Hall is constructing a Sh97 million modern market following the destruction of the original location in a fire.