Mombasa court stops opening of Kombani market in Kwale

The High Court in Mombasa has issued orders barring the opening of Kombani Market in Kwale County, pending the hearing and determination of a petition challenging its operation.

Lady Justice Njoki Mwangi made the ruling on Thursday following a submission by End to End Limited Company, the firm that was contracted to construct the Ksh.120 million market.

Justice Njoki ruled that the Kwale County officials including the Chief Officer and the CECM of Trade and Enterprises Development, be prohibited from accessing the market premises.

“Upon reading the Notice of Motion application dated 13 October 2022 it is hereby ordered that pending the hearing and determination of the Application dated 13 October 2022, the status quo pertaining as of today shall be maintained,” read the court documents.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no opening, no launching, no entry into premises of the Market in issue by the respondents or anyone acting on their instructions.”

In the same light, the court directed that the County’s Regional Commander of police oversee the execution of the court orders inclusive of ensuring peace and order.

“The Regional police commander and the regional police commissioner are directed to ensure that the above Orders are enforced and that peace is restored in the Market which forms the subject of this Application namely, the Fresh Produce Wholesale Market at Kombani-Waa Ng'ombeni ward in Kwale county,” stated the judge.

Last week during the opening of the court, chaos emerged over a disagreement between the Contractor and the County officials.

Residents also went up in arms protesting delays in the opening of the modern market despite being completed over two years ago.