A meeting that had been convened by leaders from Embu and Meru counties to solve differences between miraa traders from both counties trading in Siakago market ended prematurely after locals refused to be addressed by Meru leaders.
Their differences stem from allegations by locals who are accusing Meru miraa traders, who visit the area for business, of theft which saw businesses in the market paralyzed and several shops belonging to miraa traders set ablaze and property worth thousands reduced to ashes.
The local traders who had attended the meeting in hundreds looked highly charged and did to allow leaders from Meru to address them.
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At the same time, they strongly opposed suggestions by local leaders who were allowed to speak.
Area Member of Parliament Geoffrey Kiringa who coordinated the speeches pleaded with them to give each leader an opportunity to air their points in vain.
However few leaders who managed to speak urged the locals to embrace each other and do clean business.
Embu deputy governor Kinyua Mugo said it was not illegal for anybody to do business in any county but noted there is a need to register all the traders to weed out gangs who were hiding in the miraa business.
"We want to clean up thugs terrorizing locals here, and this can only be achieved through registering traders," Mugo said.
Embu senator Alexander Mundigi called for seizing fire between the two groups and bringing harmony in the area so that businesses could go on.
"Two people cannot move without an agreement, let's put our differences aside and move on, but those who are abetting crimes should be brought to book," Mundigi said.
Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Kiringa urged the government to transfer all police officers within the areas accusing them of laxity and failing to protect the locals.
The leaders from Meru were led by Meru Deputy governor Isaac Mutuma, Meru senator Kathuri Murungi, Tingania East MP Mpuri Ampuri, Igembe South MP Paul Mwiringi among other leaders.
After the turn of events, the leaders from Meru county were forced to leave the venue and dropped away.
The locals living in Siakago town are accusing Meru Miraa traders who are trading at the market saying they were part of those robbing locals.
They said since the traders started the miraa business in the area cases of theft have increased and cases of reversal of money when they sell miraa to them are rampant.
''We are living with a gang here in the name of miraa traders these people have turned on us and stealing from us and we shall not accept this we are tired,'' one of the locals in Siakago town said.
