Ngong Market has once again been thrown into crisis following a fresh wave of electricity disconnections, leaving traders in darkness and sparking outrage over what they term as systemic neglect by the county government.
Despite daily revenue collection and some traders paying for sub-meters, large sections of the market remain without power. According to area MCA Mwaura Mbiriri, the latest blackout originates from unpaid streetlight electricity bills, a debt traders say they did not incur but are now being punished for.
Kenya Power billing records seen by this publication confirm that the outstanding electricity bill stands at Ksh148,431. In response, the county has installed a temporary solar backup system to provide limited relief, though traders say it is far from sufficient.
“This is not just a power issue but a governance failure,” said Mbiriri, who blamed the county’s finance and trade departments for failing to settle bills despite budget allocations. He also faulted the relevant County Executive Committee Member for what he described as “abandonment of duty.”
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Beyond the blackout, traders are raising alarm over deteriorating hygiene conditions in the market. Piles of uncollected waste and stagnant water have turned the trading hub into a potential health hazard. Public Health officials have now warned of a looming cholera outbreak.
“It’s ironic that the county is efficient in collecting revenue but completely absent when it comes to basic sanitation,” said one trader. “We are working in filth, and now we’re being forced to operate in darkness too.”
Meanwhile, officials from the county trade department have proposed the introduction of individual electricity meters for traders to prevent future accumulation of shared bills, a move that traders say must be accompanied by transparency and accountability.
Traders have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the county government to resolve the power and sanitation issues or face peaceful protests and a possible market shutdown.
By Masaki Enock
