18/08/2025
KITALE:COURT ORDERS NAMANJALALA PLOT OWNERS TO GET DOCUMENTS,IMPROVE MARKET.
A Kitale court has ordered the County Government of Trans Nzoia and the Municipal Board of Kitale to upgrade Namanjalala Market.
Justice C.K. Nzili,of the Environment and Land Court delivered judgment in a petition filed by Joseph Kamau.
The court declared that the county had abdicated its constitutional responsibilities and directed it to undertake major improvements.
The court ordered the County to tarmac access roads, provide parking spaces, and construct a modern ablution block.
“The respondents are mandated to undertake functions, including but not limited to upgrading Namajalala Market,” Justice Nzili ruled, giving the county six months to comply.
The court also ordered authorities to streamline ownership records of market plots, place beacons to identify boundaries, and issue documents to legitimate landowners.
The traders will also benefit from street lighting and improved security if the orders are implemented.
Kamau, a ratepayer who owns a plot at the market, told the court he had been denied the right to enjoy services despite faithfully paying levies.
“For too long, we have operated in mud and darkness, with no toilets and no security. This judgment is not just for me but for all traders who deserve dignity,” he said outside the court.
Traders at Namajalala Market welcomed the ruling, saying it offered long-overdue relief.
“We have been crying for development here for years. At least now the county has no choice but to act,” said Mary Wekesa, a vegetable vendor.
The judge warned that failure to comply within six months could expose the county to further legal action, including compensation claims for violation of constitutional rights.
The county government did not immediately comment on the ruling, but officials have in the past cited budgetary constraints as a challenge in upgrading markets.
For many traders who depend on the Market for their livelihoods, the ruling represents hope for a safer and more dignified trading environment.