•The Nairobi County Assembly passed a motion that was to compel the executive to construct a perimeter wall at Toi market in the current financial year 2023-24.
•The Chief Officer highlighted that the county shall remove any illegal structures along Toi market boundaries so that they can be rebuilt.
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
On June 11, 2023, an inferno burnt down a large section of Toi market in Kibra leading to the loss of properties as well as merchandise.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja promised to help the traders rebuild their stalls.
"We have assessed the damage and we will help you rebuild," he said.
Sakaja added that plans to create ample road access inside the market will also be incorporated into the rebuilding project to allow emergency vehicles to gain access during similar incidences.
However, eight months down the line, the market is yet to be rebuilt.
In an interview with the Star, Chief Officer for Trade, Markets and Cooperatives Godfrey Akumali revealed that the land at Toi market was contested.
"You must be aware that one of the major problems facing Toi Market is the land. The land is contested which means we are unable to start the project as soon as we wanted," he said.
Following the fire incident in June 2023, the Nairobi County Assembly passed a motion that was to compel the executive to construct a perimeter wall at Toi market in the current financial year 2023-24.
However, this cannot be achieved until the land dispute is solved.
According to Akumali, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel as the Lands Department has initiated the process of reclaiming the land.
"We have initiated contact with our colleagues in the land sector to reclaim the land. So they will have to survey and retitle it," he added.
The Chief Officer highlighted that the county shall remove any illegal structures along Toi market boundaries so that they can be rebuilt.
Once that is complete, the county will erect a perimeter wall and access roads to the market.
"Remember last time when the fire happened there were complaints of access roads. We have done the four roads leading to Toi and ensure that the roads remain clear," Akumali added.
The rebuilding of the Toi market will, however, be done in phases to avoid displacing all traders at once.
"Probably where there are traders it's difficult to start a project from scratch because they will have to be relocated to pave the way for the works," Akumali said.
"But we are on track and we want the lands to do their part and when it comes to use, we will do the market in four phases. So that we don't displace the traders."
Land grabbing is a major challenge facing most free public land in Nairobi.
Early last year, City Hall commenced a drive to reclaim public land grabbed by private developers.
Sakaja promised that no effort would be spared to repossess land meant for public use like expansion, recreation and parking.
In October, the Nairobi County Build, Environment and Urban Planning sector rolled out a development plan to help deter land grabbing, evict land grabbers from public properties and regulate on encroachment of buildings.
All developers within the county were required to submit drawings to the physical planning sector for approval, stream revenue and promote authentication of properties before proceeding with construction.