Thika Market shut down after two test positive for Covid-19

Madaraka Market in Thika, Kiambu County has temporarily been closed following two Covid-19 cases that were reported in the area this week.

The County Trade Executive Committee member Kigo Njenga said that the closure will pave way for fumigation and fencing of the market among other activities.

He said the move was prompted after reports indicated that the patients were a driver and his conductor.

The two are truck drivers who transport food items from Tanzania and had interacted with locals.

“They have been transporting food items from Tanzania to this market and may have interacted with traders and locals in the larger town of Thika. There are others who migrated from Eastleigh in Nairobi County to this area and they have been buying items while interacting with traders in the area,” he said.

He said the market will be reopened once they are sure that everyone will be safe.

The closure came as a surprise to the over 5,000 traders who operate in the market, with those who deal with perishable goods claiming that they should have been given more time to clear their stock.

Rehema Ngomi 78, and who sells tomatoes says they will incur losses during the period that the market will be closed.

“We are counting huge losses. I have been forced to relocate all the items I sell to my house, most of which cannot last for long,” she said.

Bernard Chege wondered why they have to suffer for other people’s decisions.

“Why were people from Tanzania allowed in the country in the first place? We can source for those goods in the nearby counties,” said the cabbage seller.

The market had been closed for a week in March when the virus hit the country and was fumigated before being reopened following an outcry from traders.