Masinde Muliro Market is at the centre of a dispute over funding, stalls and county authority.
The faction backs Governor George Natembeya as county and national leaders clash over financing, stall allocations and control of Masinde Muliro Market.
The Kitale market row has drawn in the Linda Mwananchi faction, which accuses President William Ruto of undermining devolution. The group backed Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya in the dispute over Masinde Muliro Market.
In a statement issued on Monday, the faction said the county initiated and largely financed the project. Pauline Njoroge, its head of communication, signed the statement challenging the President’s involvement.
The disagreement also covers stall allocations, security deployments and management of the newly opened facility. Ruto maintains that his intervention secured its completion, while Natembeya says county resources funded most construction.
Kitale market row centres on funding
Linda Mwananchi said the county commissioned the project during the 2017/2018 financial year at Sh874.28 million. It argued that market construction falls within county responsibilities under devolution.
The faction also cited the Auditor-General’s report for the 2023/2024 financial year. That report questioned completion delays, seven contractor extensions, cost changes and ownership of the land.
However, the group said Natembeya inherited those audit concerns from the previous county administration. It said the Senate County Public Investments Committee directed him to resolve them and ensure value for money.
The faction further claimed that the committee later inspected the market and commended the county’s corrective efforts.
In February, the county handed the remaining construction work to the national government. At that point, the facility was reportedly more than 95 per cent complete.
County officials said their administration had invested more than Sh800 million in the project. Meanwhile, the national government released another Sh56 million to support completion.
During his October 16 visit to Trans Nzoia, Ruto said the project had stalled for four years. He said he instructed Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga to mobilise the outstanding funds.
Natembeya, however, has insisted that the county deserves recognition for financing most of the work. He had threatened court action to prevent the President’s launch, citing the constitutional division of responsibilities.
Competing claims over trading spaces
The market aims to accommodate thousands of traders who previously worked in congested areas of Kitale. Yet its completion has brought competing claims over who should receive stalls.
Before the presidential launch, the county announced allocations for approximately 2,700 traders. Natembeya later accused national officials of interference, alleging that his administration’s selected traders risked losing their spaces.
Ruto, meanwhile, directed County Commissioner Hussein Allaso to prioritise traders displaced by construction. The President said more than 1,500 displaced traders should receive first consideration.
On Monday, Natembeya removed a plaque bearing Ruto’s name and redistributed stalls, further escalating the confrontation. However, he subsequently dropped plans for a separate launch, dismissing the dispute as petty political conflict.
Security deployment draws criticism
Linda Mwananchi also criticised police and water cannon deployments at the facility during the standoff. The faction argued that the security presence risked intimidating Natembeya and residents.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka similarly condemned the water cannons on Monday. He said their deployment raised concerns about respect for devolution and residents’ dignity.
The confrontation followed clashes between rival political supporters in Kitale on October 16. The National Police Service reported injuries to two officers and damage to two government vehicles.
Beyond the immediate dispute, Linda Mwananchi accused Ruto of seeking control over development projects undertaken by other institutions. It also linked the confrontation to the 2027 General Election and pledged to mobilise voters against his administration.
The faction urged Natembeya and Trans Nzoia residents to remain firm in defending devolution. It said the market’s management must follow the law and serve its intended traders and residents.
