More than 70 traders at Soko Mjinga market in Homa Bay town are counting losses after raging floods destroyed their goods and properties.
Most traders found their stores and shops flooded with water as a number of stalls in the open-air market were swept away and destroyed by the raging floods.
The market also turned muddy after the floods orchestrated by heavy and prolonged rains pondered the area last Sunday.
Some of the traders, Dories Opiyo, Eucabeth Kwamboka, Yvone Atieno, Simon Matete, Sabina Okode, and Caroline Ariyo decried heavy losses after the incident.
They claimed that they normally get affected by floods during rainy seasons and raised complaints with the Homa Bay government without assistance.
“Soko Mjinga traders feel neglected because floods destroy our valuables every rainy season without help. The market has become inaccessible due to mud,” Kwamboka said.
Speaking to journalists at the market on Monday, the traders threatened never to remit taxes to the Homa Bay government should they continue to incur losses over what they termed can be rectified.
Atieno said her four crates containing tomatoes were swept away.
“Most of the remaining crates of tomatoes have been soiled as some are smashed. I have lost more than Sh40,000 due to the floods,” Atieno said.
Okode and Matete argued that they would not be able to repay loans after their goods were destroyed.
They complained that they also get disturbed by cattle, goats and sheep which roam around the market. The animals step and destroy goods and sometimes eat them.
“I don’t know how I will pay the loan because my goods were taken on credit. We’re appealing for the county government of Homa Bay to hear our pleas,” she said.
Soko Mjinga market chairman Joshua Awino asked the county government to open up drainage systems around the area so that water can flow with ease.
He linked the frequent flooding and destruction in the market to poor drainage systems.
“I know the majority of traders haven’t registered their losses from the floods. Let the county government address the issue of the drainage system once and for all,” Awino said.
The official said they have reported the matter to the county department of trade for intervention.
