- The MP also asked the government to consider compensating traders whenever their property is lost like in the case of Toy Market.
- The lawmaker called on the county government under governor Johnson Sakaja to ensure disaster response is improved so as heavy losses are avoided.
Image: HANDOUT
The government must, with immediate effect, deal decisively with terrorists razing down city markets, Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi has demanded.
The national and County Government, he said, must ensure that city traders’ property are protected from arsonists who have been wreaking havoc across the city setting markets on fire every year.
Speaking at Toi Market in Kibra on Tuesday, June 13, when he visited traders whose property was reduced to ashes on Saturday, Wanyonyi challenged the county government to erect permanent structures for traders in a bid to reduce losses incase of fires.
"Those criminals roaming around burning markets here (Toy), Gikomba and others will not be allowed to continue. Those are terrorists and we must make sure that we stop them from destroying people’s property,” he said.
During the visit, the MP donated over 500 iron sheets to help affected traders reconstruct their structures and continue with their businesses as they plan to construct better structures for them.
The iron sheets, he said, will go a long way in reducing the pain and loss Toy Market traders would have incurred in buying them themselves and promised to mobilise for more should they be insufficient.
"For those who have been badly affected, I will continue mobilising for resources to help you bounce back. Whenever I get, I will share the little that I have with you,” Wanyonyi said.
The MP also asked the government to consider compensating traders whenever their property is lost like in the case of Toy Market.
It is the duty and responsibility of the government to ensure that every Kenyan is protected, provided for and enabled to do business in a conducive environment, he said.
At the same time, the lawmaker called on the county government under governor Johnson Sakaja to ensure disaster response is improved so as heavy losses are avoided.
The MP revealed that his bid for City Hall is still alive and assured residents that he will be back in the ring during the next general elections in 2027.
Wanyonyi said his journey is on a pause but will continue from where it stopped in the next elections.
Recently, ODM leader Raila Odinga reiterated his support for the soft-spoken MP's gubernatorial bid and dismissed rumours that the legislator was harbouring ambitions to relocate to Bungoma.