Jamhuri market traders were planning to hold peaceful demonstrations in the whole of Thika and its constituents over increased license fees and upsurge in county council askaris harassment.
Speaking to James Njoroge the main organizer of the event he said that the chairman of the market had been bribed to ward off the demo.
"We have been patient for so long waiting for this leaders to effect on this planned demo but to no avail. We have elected them to fight for our rights but all they do is pretend to be with us yet they go behind our backs and are bribed by the county government.” He said.
There was a standoff between the leaders and the organizers who could not materialize the organized event, but instead engaged in an abusive row.
Some of their grievances were increased trading levies, lack of license issuance even after payment, harassment by county askaris among others.
Efforts to speak with the market chairman Anthony Mukiri were futile as he declined to speak to the media.
The irked demonstrators have now vowed to petition a suit in court to sue the county government for increasing taxes and ruthlessly harassing them on minor grounds.
The demonstration was later called off and the traders were calmed down and told to go on with their day’s activities.