Patience has finally run out in the bustling markets of Nandi County. Tired of waiting for promises that seemingly evaporate with the morning mist, traders in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills have issued a defiant ultimatum to Governor Stephen Sang’s administration: allow us to build our own stalls, or face a total commercial paralysis.

The traders, who have been operating under tattered umbrellas and makeshift polythene shades for years, decry the deplorable conditions they are forced to endure. Muddy pathways, lack of drainage, and exposure to the harsh sun and rain have turned their daily hustle into a health hazard. The stalled construction of the Kapsabet Market Complex, a project that was meant to be the jewel of the county’s trade infrastructure, has become a symbol of their frustration.

"The Money is Gone, The Sheds are Empty"

Joseph Kareri, a representative of the traders, did not mince his words. "The county completed fourteen sheds back in October 2024, but work stopped abruptly," he explained. "We were told the funds ran out and work would resume in June. That is six months of waiting while our goods rot in the rain. We cannot eat promises."

The traders fear a repeat of past betrayals where completed projects were handed over to politically connected newcomers rather than the locals who had endured the hardships of the open-air market. "We requested the county to allow us to use our own money to complete the stalls," Kareri added. "If the government is broke, the people are not. We are ready to build, but they must guarantee that we will occupy them."

• The Governance Gap: Governor Sang had previously promised to complete 69 stalled ECDE centres and market projects, citing theft of construction materials worth KSh 200 million as the cause of delays. Traders are skeptical that the "missing materials" excuse is still valid years later.
• The Self-Help Solution: The traders have formed a committee to collect funds from members, proposing a Public-Private Partnership model where they fund the construction in exchange for long-term leases.
• The Threat of Protests: While the governor has urged for dialogue, saying "there is no need for demonstrations," the mood on the ground is volatile. Traders have threatened to withhold cess payments if their demands are not met by the end of the month.

A County Under Pressure

The standoff in Nandi is a microcosm of a larger crisis affecting devolved units, where ambitious infrastructure projects stall due to cash flow crunches and procurement irregularities. For the tomato seller in Kapsabet, however, macro-economics is irrelevant. Her reality is the mud on her shoes and the rain on her stock.

"We are not asking for handouts," declared a female trader at the Nandi Hills stage. "We are asking for the right to do business with dignity. If the Governor cannot give us a roof, he should at least get out of the way so we can build one ourselves."