Senator Oburu Oginga moves to court to stop construction of Mitumba market in Bondo

Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga, along with a member of the public, Dickson Oruko Oburu, has filed a petition seeking to block the construction of a second-hand clothes market in Bondo Town.

The duo, through their lawyer Sylvia Nyambeki, successfully obtained an injunction from the Siaya High Court, preventing the Siaya County Government from proceeding with the development of the proposed Mitumba market.

The case, filed under a certificate of urgency before the Siaya Environment and Lands Court, was granted by the presiding judge, Justice Edda Dena.

This legal action comes just weeks after Siaya Governor James Orengo launched the construction of the facility on May 5, 2025, with a view to providing a more conducive environment for traders selling second-hand clothes, popularly known as mitumba.

Lady Justice Edda Dena ruled on May 27, 2025, that given the urgency of the matter, the current status of parcels Bondo Township/58 and Bondo Township/59 as of May 26, 2025, must be maintained. She further directed that no further construction or development should take place on the said parcels until the court provides further directions.

Dr. Oburu and Mr. Oruko, listed as the first and second plaintiffs, respectively, stated in their affidavits that they legally obtained a 99-year lease for the parcels, effective from July 1, 2024.

The Siaya County Government is named as the respondent in the suit, while the National Land Commission is listed as an interested party.

In their claim, the plaintiffs accuse the county government of trespassing on their legally acquired land without following proper procedures. They further assert that traders have been informally using the parcels for business operations.

The Environment and Lands Court is scheduled to issue further directions on the case on Friday, May 30, 2025.