President William Ruto’s much-anticipated visit to Vihiga County for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sh365 million Luanda Modern Market was overshadowed by political drama and heckling, exposing simmering tensions among local leaders and the community.
The event, meant to mark a significant milestone for the development of Western Kenya, quickly turned chaotic when Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo was met with loud jeers from the crowd.
When invited to address the audience, Ottichilo was unable to deliver his speech due to the relentless heckling, forcing him to abandon his address.
“Luanda, hoyee! Well, on behalf of the people of Luanda…hello…hello…well…I think…listen…listen…well, we will leave it at that. If you have refused, it’s okay,” a visibly frustrated Ottichilo said, signaling his surrender and handing the microphone back to President Ruto.
The disruptions didn’t stop with the governor. Luanda MP Oyugi Dick Maungu also faced resistance from sections of the crowd but managed to power through his speech.
He expressed gratitude to the President for prioritizing development in the region, despite the tense atmosphere.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for bringing development to our region,” Maungu said, his voice firm as the crowd’s murmurs continued.
Meanwhile, Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala, who has already declared her intention to run for governor in 2027, also endured heckling but managed to address the gathering with unwavering confidence.
Her presence at the event appeared to signal her political aspirations, despite the ongoing tensions.
The cause of the uproar is believed to be rooted in the recent demolition of stalls at the old Luanda Market, which had displaced many local traders.
The demolitions, which began earlier in the week as part of preparations for the new market, left many vendors frustrated, accusing both the national and county governments of negligence.
“People feel the governor and other leaders did little to stop the hurried demolition and allowed people to be chased away like dogs,” said one trader, expressing the collective outrage of the affected vendors.
While the county government has distanced itself from the demolitions, insisting they were not authorized at the local level, the tensions over the issue remain high.
Despite the unrest, the Luanda Modern Market project is still being hailed as a potentially transformative project for the region, with expectations that it will be completed by December 2025.
However, many traders have voiced concerns about a lack of consultation, saying they only learned about the groundbreaking through media reports.
“This project could change our lives, but it’s already off to a rocky start. If the same mistakes made in the Esibuye Market project are repeated here, we are heading for failure,” said Dr. Billy Nyonje, the Chairperson of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Vihiga Chapter, referencing the stalled Esibuye Market, which remains incomplete despite being launched earlier in 2024.
In an attempt to pacify the frustrated crowd, President Ruto announced a Sh3 million allocation to compensate traders whose stalls were demolished in the process.
He also instructed the contractor to complete the project by December 2025, emphasizing that it would bring much-needed economic benefits to the region.
“I understand your frustrations, and we will ensure that the affected traders are compensated. This market will help uplift the entire community,” President Ruto said, addressing the crowd.
Despite the President’s efforts, skepticism remains high, fueled by the incomplete Esibuye project and lingering doubts about the transparency and inclusivity of the new market initiative.
Many residents and traders are questioning whether the promises will be kept and whether their interests will truly be considered as the project progresses.
As President Ruto continues his Western Kenya tour, his government’s commitment to the region remains under scrutiny, with many questioning the execution and follow-through of development projects that are meant to transform the area.
The political drama in Vihiga County highlights deep divisions among local leaders and the community, which could shape the political landscape in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
With local leaders vying for power and a growing sense of discontent, the future of Western Kenya’sdevelopment appears uncertain.
