Governor Achani reopens Kombani fresh produce market

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has officially reopened the Kombani Fresh Produce Wholesale market in Kwale county.

The reopening follows a Monday morning fracas between private security officers, angry residents and traders.

Several people were injured and left with deep cuts. Police officers from the Kombani police post had to intervene to restore order.

According to eyewitnesses, an unknown number of people attacked the security bouncers who were manning the market gates and had to flee for their lives.

The bouncers had been hired by the contractor, according to the residents and county officials.

The Sh120 million market was on December 2021 commissioned by the then Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, Land CAS Gideon Mung'aro, governor Salim Mvurya and EU ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger.

But the market was closed following a court dispute between a contractor and the Kwale county government.

The contractor had obtained a court order stopping any activity from going on until his plight is addressed.

The contractor had earlier been fired over the allegations of doing sub-standard work and abandoning the site.

However, the contractor denied all the allegations saying the county had illegally subcontracted the project to another contractor and there were payment issues.

Speaking at Kombani, Achani condemned the incident saying the county paid the contractor.

She said the court order does not stop the traders from accessing the facility but restricts the county from sub-contracting the work.

“The court orders are very clear. They are barring us from re-tendering the project which we are not doing,” the governor said.

Achani said the traders had also obtained their court order preventing the county and the contractor from interfering with their work at the market.

She said the traders and residents have every right to use the facility because it was constructed with public money.

The market was funded by the EU in partnership with the Kwale government.

Achani accused the police officers of taking sides and protecting criminals who vandalise government property.

She said storage facilities, lights, wires and other equipment worth millions have been destroyed and stolen.

“This market belongs to the residents, if the security is not capable of protecting it, they should let us know,” she said.

Achani said the insecurity in Kombani has risen because officers are compromised.

The county chief told the police to protect residents without alienation.

She said traders should be protected and the current dispute between them and the contractor should not affect the citizens.

Matuga subcounty police commander Hassan Godana denied all the allegations.

He said the police officers are always at the front line in protecting lives and property from destruction.

“We got reports people had been hurt. Our role is to protect everyone and we are not biased,” he said.

Godana assured residents of enough security and that traders won't be harassed.

He, however, called on the residents to maintain peace and unity for peaceful coexistence.

Matuga assistant county commissioner Paul Oyaro said the Kombani market and its traders will be given the maximum security.

He said nobody should be worried because the security officers are alert and will protect locals from any harm.

Kombani market traders chairperson Kijoto Mohammed urged Kwale residents to take advantage of the market to improve their lives.

He said the traders should also embrace peaceful conflict resolution methods for peace and growth.

The Kombani market is the second largest after the Kongowea market in Mombasa.

It has hotels, butcheries, closed and spacious open-air, market stalls, parking lots and offices to run the facility operations.

It is expected to ease traders from the burden of trekking long distances in search of commodities for commercial trade and domestic use.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris