Meru muguka traders rebuild in Ugweri after Siakago eviction

Muguka traders from Meru County who were violently driven out of Siakago town in Embu three weeks ago have found an unlikely refuge in Ugweri market, Runyenjes constituency. Their resettlement comes after days of clashes that underscored simmering tensions in the region and exposed the fragility of community coexistence.
For years, Meru traders had conducted business in Siakago, the administrative hub of Mbeere North, selling muguka—a stimulant leaf closely related to miraa. But what began as an ordinary trading relationship with the local Mbeere community collapsed into violence earlier this month.
At the heart of the unrest was suspicion. Locals accused the traders of being behind a spate of motorcycle thefts that had rocked the town for months. When police appeared either unwilling or unable to address the rising insecurity, mistrust boiled over. A violent confrontation between the two communities quickly escalated, lasting two days and leaving at least six people injured.
The violence was devastating for the Meru traders. Businesses they had painstakingly built over years were looted and burned. Families fled in fear as homes were attacked. Traders now estimate their losses in the millions of shillings. “We were left with nothing,” said trader Christopher Kiura. “If the attack was not politically motivated, then why were we denied security reinforcement as our shops were destroyed?”
His complaint highlights a broader concern among displaced families: that state institutions abandoned them at their most vulnerable moment. Despite a series of crisis meetings chaired by local administrators and attended by senior officials—including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku—traders insist no meaningful support has been forthcoming. Instead, they say they were left to fend for themselves as they searched for a new place to rebuild their lives.
That place turned out to be Ugweri, a trading centre in neighbouring Runyenjes constituency. Welcomed by local residents and backed by area MP Muchangi Karemba, the traders have since restarted their businesses. For many, the reception has been a relief after weeks of upheaval. “We appreciate the hospitality of the people here in Ugweri who have welcomed us and given us a place to carry out our trade,” said George Gitonga, a trader.
Business, by most accounts, has been brisk. Ugweri residents say the influx of traders has injected new energy into the local economy. The area, once seen as a sleepy market, is beginning to attract more customers and traders from surrounding villages. Locals are optimistic that the settlement will transform Ugweri into a vibrant commercial hub.
Still, beneath the surface, scars remain. Many displaced traders are haunted by the memories of the Siakago clashes. Some believe the violence was less about petty theft and more about political manipulation. Allegations that rival interests sought to stoke ethnic division for gain remain unproven, but they have further eroded trust in institutions meant to safeguard citizens.
The episode also underscores a deeper fragility in Kenya’s local economies. Muguka and miraa are cash crops that sustain thousands of families across Meru and Embu counties. Yet competition over markets, layered with ethnic mistrust, has often led to flashpoints. In 2021, similar disputes flared between Meru and Embu traders over control of stalls and supply chains.
Observers warn that unless government addresses insecurity and provides clear mediation channels, such clashes could recur. “We cannot afford to treat these as isolated incidents,” said a local leader who requested anonymity. “The state must act to build confidence between communities, otherwise economic rivalries will be exploited by political actors.”
For now, the Meru traders in Ugweri are focused on survival. Having lost much in Siakago, they are determined to rebuild. Their hope is that the new beginning will hold, and that Ugweri will prove more than just a temporary refuge. But their ordeal remains a cautionary tale—about the costs of insecurity, the dangers of political incitement, and the precarious line between coexistence and conflict in Kenya’s rural towns.