Siaya Senator Oburu sues to halt construction of Bondo mitumba market

Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, together with a member of the public, Dickson Oruko Oburu, have filed a petition aiming to halt the construction of a second-hand clothes market in Bondo Town.

Represented by their lawyer Sylvia Nyambeki, they successfully obtained an injunction from the Siaya High Court, stopping the Siaya County Government from moving forward with the development of the proposed Mitumba market.

The case, filed urgently at the Siaya Environment and Lands Court, was granted by Justice Edda Dena.

This legal challenge comes just weeks after Governor James Orengo officially launched the project on May 5, 2025, intended to create a better trading environment for mitumba traders.

On May 27, 2025, Lady Justice Edda Dena ruled that, due to the urgency of the matter, the current state of the parcels known as Bondo Township/58 and Bondo Township/59 as of May 26, 2025, must be preserved.

She ordered that no further construction or development should occur on the land until the court issues additional instructions.

Dr. Oburu and Oruko, identified as the first and second plaintiffs, respectively, claim in their affidavits to have legally secured a 99-year lease on the parcels starting July 1, 2024.

The Siaya County Government is the respondent in the case, with the National Land Commission named as an interested party.

The plaintiffs accuse the county government of unlawfully trespassing on their leased land without following the correct procedures.

They also note that the parcels have been informally used by traders for business purposes.

The Environment and Lands Court is expected to provide further rulings on the matter on Friday, May 30, 2025.