Traders Storm Police Station In Solidarity With Arrested Colleague.

More than 500 Madaraka Market traders Saturday afternoon paralysed business along Kenyatta Highway when they stormed Thika Police Station to demand the release of one of their own who had earlier been arrested by CID officers attached to the station.

Mary Wamuyu is alleged to have been picked from her market stand in Makongeni by plain-cloth officers in connection with the November 22nd 2015 torching of Kamenu MCA Elizabeth Muthoni's house.

Following the arrest, the traders are said to have expeditiously closed business and walked more than 5km to Thika Town in solidarity with Wamuyu. They argued that the police were exhibiting double-standards in their pursuit for what transpired in Makongeni Estate on that fateful Sunday.

"Why are the police so keen on Muthoni's (MCA) case and ignoring the plight of the 5,000 traders who lost all their livelihood in the market fire? This is selective justice!" Said one angry trader.

Tension was high as the traders arrived at the station with police officers hurriedly assembled to keep vigil. Officers could be seen with teargas canisters ready for combat just in case the situation went out of hand.

Nearby shops and stalls were quickly shut down in fear of commotion and possible looting. Curious wananchi who had no idea what was happening could be seen watching from a distance and inquiring to get wind of what was happening.

However, no ugly scene was reported and the situation was under control.

At around 5:30pm, Wamuyu was released with a sh. 50,000 cash bail and will be arraigned in court on Monday.

Her release was welcomed by ululations, song and dance. She was carried shoulder-high for more than a kilometer as the traders sang songs of victory, moving along Kenyatta Highway.

The traders' demos caused some heavy traffic snarl-up along Kenyatta Highway as majority of them walked back all the way to Makongeni Estate chanting and and singing.

Madaraka Market has been the hotbed of Thika and Kiambu politics pitting area MP Alice Ng'ang'a against Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, with Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu being dragged in the mix.

In November last year, hired arsonists burned down the market at around 1am, destroying property worth millions of shillings. A section of traders pointed an accusing finger to Governor Kabogo saying that he sent the goons in order to evict them so as to repossess the market and sell the land to a certain private developer.

They accused their area MCA of involvement and in a retaliatory attack, torched her house and car.