Homa Bay town traders want the county government to change the structural design of the Sh117 million market to protect them from weather elements.
They said most of them operate their businesses in an unconducive environment because the roof of the market does not protect them during rain or sunshine.
They now want the county government to redo the roofing to provide a good environment for doing businesses.
Homa Bay market started operating in May after a three-year construction period.
Under the umbrella of Homa Bay Giant Traders Association, the traders urged the county government to also construct more stalls because many of them put their wares on the ground.
The association has more than 1,200 members drawn from 27 subsectors.
Traders led by Jack Nyambega (chairman), Thomas Kaumba (secretary) and Esther Odhiambo (treasurer) said bad weather limits the time traders operate in the market.
“The market doesn’t have adequate lighting for traders to operate in during dark hours. The roof should also be redesigned to protect traders,” Nyambega said.
The officials, who spoke after they were elected into office, pledged to engage with the Homa Bay department of trade to resolve the problem.
Nyambega said they will redistribute stalls to traders.
During relocation, some traders are said to have been locked out of the market when stalls were being distributed.
Some got more than three stalls while others do not have space to sell their goods.
The chairman said traders were working with a committee from the department of trade to ensure effective distribution.
“The committee will come up with modalities of redistributing stalls to traders because we all have equal rights to operate in the market. We ask for cooperation from all business operators,” he said.
Kaumba said traders should get value for the taxes they pay by improving the market. He called for more support from the county government.
“The drainage system needs to be done to improve sanitation. Without good hygiene, which is the responsibility of the county government, a market can harbour many diseases,” Kaumba said.
Edited by A.N