An official at the Wakulima market in Nakuru has termed as untrue claims by Nakuru Town east MP David Gikaria that the market has been invaded by cartels who are selling spaces to traders at exorbitant rates.
Agnes Shiko who is in charge of the market's Nakuru East traders section on Thursday stated that they were not aware of such a trend saying no trader had ever reported to them.
"We do not have any information towards that allegation but if it does occur then we will address it," she said.
She further said that they were charging traders a monthly fe, of Sh360 and Sh2200 for matatu operators.
However, Andrew Kamau who operates a grocery store at the market concurred with Gikaria's position saying that the market's management was not keen on addressing the issue.
"It is indeed true that there are people demanding money in exchange for selling spaces and they mostly target newcomers, especially women. The market officials are aware of this, but they have refused to act," he said.
The MP made the claims during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, at Afraha Stadium where he requested the county government through its ministry of Trade to move with speed and contain the situation in the market.
"I would like the county government to urgently investigate and stop cartels who are extorting colossal amounts of money from traders at the Wakulima market in purported exchange for selling spaces ," he said.