Hawkers and small-scale traders operating near the Likoni ferry terminus have raised concerns over delays and a lack of transparency in the Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) Sh400 million stalls project.
They demand answers over the proposed Traffic Circulation Management Plan programme that was to put up stalls to decongest the area calling for closer engagement with stakeholders before any relocation is carried out.
The project, unveiled by KPA in September 2025, is aimed at decongesting the Likoni crossing through expanded holding bays, pedestrian sky bridges, widened landing ramps and more than 900 stalls for informal traders.
It was expected to begin construction on the mainland Likoni side soon after its unveiling, with a projected 24-month timeline affecting more than 3,000 traders and matatu operators at the terminus.
The traders maintained that they support the project but want meaningful consultation and clear communication to address outstanding issues before relocation begins.
Likoni Hawkers Mainland Chairman Henry Kiragu said the project had initially progressed well, but later stalled, with committee allowances stopping without explanation and uncertainty emerging over the management of funds.
“It reached a point where it stopped. Even the allowances in those committees stopped coming, and it is not known where they went,” Kiragu said.
He stated that early discussions on the project were conducted without proper documentation, with minutes not being recorded, a practice that only changed once the Deputy County Commissioner became involved.
He added that many proposals presented by traders during subsequent meetings were either ignored or their concerns dismissed.
Kiragu dismissed claims that the traders’ concerns were politically driven, saying they were only seeking recognition of their rights after occupying the site for more than three decades.
“We want our rights because we have sat on this land for more than thirty years,” he said.
He appealed for county government support in developing the new site before traders move, saying the area is large and would benefit from proper infrastructure such as a trading stage and business kiosks to accommodate displaced hawkers.
Kiragu said he had raised the matter directly with Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, that traders in the area pay county revenue just as vehicle operators do through the sticker system, and questioning why development support had not reached them at the ground level.
“All these vehicles pay for stickers, and we contribute too. All these traders pay county revenue. Why has support not come down to the ground level?” he posed,
He said traders were seeking direct dialogue with county leadership on the implementation and pace of the Sh400 million project, noting that the relocation would affect not only hawkers, but also matatu operators, car wash businesses, and other small-scale traders operating in the area.
Kiragu called on the county leadership to continue working with the traders, urging officials to engage with them through site visits and follow-up meetings before the project progresses.
“We want you to leave a legacy of having helped the hawkers of Likoni. Come here so we can talk, walk with us,” he said.
A long-serving trader at the site, popularly known as Mama Kamau, said she had operated there for nearly three decades and appealed to Governor Abdullswamad Nassir to visit the traders and listen to their concerns firsthand.
By Joan Kinuthia
