• Trouble started after a fire that recently gutted stalls in the market.
• Traders say the fire was an arson attack on behalf of a tycoon who is putting up a building in the market.
The price of tomatoes in Mombasa has risen sharply following an artificial shortage created by a dispute between traders and county authorities.
One tomato was on Monday going for as much as Sh50, up from Sh10.
As many as 48 trucks carrying tomatoes and potatoes had queued at Miritini cess barrier by Sunday evening.
According to traders, the county had refused to collect fees from the truckers.
"This means we cannot take them to Kongowea market. You cannot take any produce to the market without paying for them," Mama Wachira, a trader said.
Trouble started after a fire recently gutted market stalls.
Traders say the fire was an arson attack instigated by a tycoon who is putting up a building in the market.
"They want to create a road that will lead to the flats being put up there," a trader said.
On Monday, tomato and potato traders in the market were playing football where they would normally display their produce.
"We have nothing to sell. Our goods have been barred at Miritini. The only way to keep us busy is to play football," Allan Waweru, a potato trader said.
A source in the county inspectorate told the Star on Monday that the move to bar vehicles carrying tomatoes and potatoes is to avenge the four inspectorate officers who were injured by the traders last Friday.
The officers were demolishing structures put up by the traders.
They said the structures were not supposed to be built there because they block an access road which is to be constructed.
Barring of vehicles carrying tomatoes and potatoes started on Friday.
This means traders at Kongowea and those in estates have been selling the stock they had, which have now been depleted.
A spot check by the Star in Bamburi, Mtopanga, Mwandoni and Bombolulu areas found little or no tomatoes.
"Those found go for up to Sh50 a tomato," Khadija Ahmed, a Bamburi resident, said.
Mombasa county communication boss Richard Chacha said a cartel that has blocked the construction of the access road is the same one that sells tomatoes and potatoes.
"They have been halted until they agree and pledge to allow for the construction of the access road," Chacha told the Star on phone.
He said the access road will allow the county to respond to emergencies like fire in the market.
"You saw the other day the fire that razed the market. If there was an access road there would have been some salvaging," Chacha said.
"There must be order in the market."
Yesterday, the traders had called for a meeting in the evening to discuss the way forward.
"We have to find an amicable solution," Ali Mtsumi, a market leader said.