By Christopher Omondi
Long-standing leadership disputes at Kibuye Market in Kisumu have intensified, with traders firmly accusing police of collusion with market officials to intimidate and oppress anyone questioning the leadership.
Earlier this week, traders staged a resolute protest outside Winam Law Courts, explicitly accusing Kondele OCS Daniel Ogechi and his officers of collaborating with Kibuye Market Chairperson Judith Matengo, alias Nyaramba, to intimidate traders through what they called ‘illegal arrests.’ “We raise issues about levies and poor services, and the next day police come for you,” declared Mama Rose Akinyi, a vegetable trader at Kibuye. “They claim they are maintaining order, but it feels like we are being punished for speaking out.”
Another trader, Peter Odhiambo, who sells second-hand clothes, asserted that the arrests specifically target those who dissent. “If you’re not on good terms with the market leadership, you become a target. Police pick you up, take you to court, and your goods are left unattended. We are tired,” he said emphatically.
The traders demanded an immediate and independent investigation into how arrests are conducted and the complicity of market leadership in police operations. In response, Kondele OCS Daniel Ogechi denied the accusations, insisting that his officers operate professionally and within legal bounds. “We have done our job, and if someone feels we haven’t done enough, a report can be made to hold us accountable,” Ogechi stated. He insisted that police are merely addressing law and order issues at the market and urged anyone with grievances to file formal reports.
Kisumu Market Traders’ Rights Initiative (KMTRI), a community-based organization focused on trader welfare and governance issues, highlighted that the situation at Kibuye exemplifies broader problems with weak structures in market management. “We recognize genuine security concerns at Kibuye, but we also hear persistent complaints of intimidation whenever traders dare to question leadership or finances,” said the KMTRI Coordinator.
The organization called for a mediation forum to unite traders, market leaders, police, and county officials to directly address these grievances. They demanded an audit of arrests and market revenue from the last six months to identify troubling patterns and ensure due process. Additionally, they proposed the establishment of a traders’ grievance committee with safeguards for whistleblowers. “Markets must not operate as private enterprises. Leadership has to be accountable, and police must remain neutral. If not, we undermine business and trust,” the Coordinator insisted.
Kibuye is one of Kisumu’s largest open-air markets, supporting thousands of traders and buyers daily. The ongoing tensions have already taken a toll on business, with many traders reporting a significant drop in customer traffic on protest days.
