Residents Storm Governor’s Office Over Planned Evictions From Iconic Town
On Monday, May 5, tensions rose at the governor’s office in Elgeyo Marakwet after enraged traders stormed the premises to protest an alleged intention to evict them from Iten town.
The demonstrators attempted to force their way into the offices while vowing to oppose Governor Wisley Rotich’s proposal to expel them from the town.
Armed with placards and twigs, the residents claimed there was a plot to build a mall in the area where they had established their enterprises.
With no response from the governor’s office, the citizens turned to chanting against the county government.
Traders storm Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich’s office protesting plan to eject them from Iten town to pave way for the construction of a mall pic.twitter.com/xsKHnblzNX
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 5, 2025
In 2024, Governor Rotich launched a modernization push in the county, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony for a Sh50 million market in Iten.
The modern market would be multi-story, capable of accommodating at least 600 business owners.
The government’s Ministry of Housing also announced intentions to open comparable markets in Chepkorio, Kapcherop, and Kapyego centers.
Despite the dramatic step, several dealers opposed it, possibly because they were frightened about being displaced.
This tension erupted on Monday when they stormed the county government buildings to protest.
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During the commissioning of the Ksh50m project, Governor Rotich, wary of the potential resistance from some members of the public, called on traders and plot owners to embrace modern change.
This latest incident summed up an emerging trend in the country where citizens come together to infiltrate public offices to air their grievances.
As recently as on Wednesday, April 30, hundreds of residents stormed a police station in Nyahururu calling for a transfer of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS).
Led by community leaders, the residents infiltrated the station in peaceful demonstrations as they openly faulted the incumbent OCS for what they termed poor service delivery.
Residents Storm Governor’s Office Over Planned Evictions From Iconic Town
