- Led by the Complex chairman James Ombina, they said the directive will hamper the business flow that is steadily picking up.
- Ombina noted that people should stop the propaganda and occupy the spaces within the market already allocated to them.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Image: FAITH MATETE
Traders at the Uhuru Business Complex have faulted a directive by the Kisumu county suspending construction activities at Sh600m Uhuru Business Complex.
While castigating the directive, the traders noted that this was not well thought out and would greatly affect them being that the market was currently catching up and more people continued to occupy the spaces.
Led by the Complex chairman James Ombina, they said the directive will hamper the business flow that is steadily picking up.
Ombina noted that people should stop the propaganda and occupy the spaces within the market already allocated to them.
He claimed some cartels don't want people within the markets and are colluding with others to ensure that the complex fails.
"The city manager Abala Wanga has tried his best. It's just that some of our people are stubborn, they have spaces, they have locked them and they are claiming they have not received any allocation for spaces," he said.
He assured that market traders to go on with their business saying they are yet to receive any letter to that effect.
"We are getting information from the media, about this letter, but we have not seen it," he added.
Speaking to the media at Uhuru Business Complex, Betty Akinyi, representing food traders, said they have been in the market for two years after wandering along the streets for years.
She said it was not true reports of people claiming that there was no proper allocation of spaces to traders at the market.
"The allocations were done well and every trader got spaces allocated to them. Some of us moved here two years ago, others have refused to open shops within the market yet they have spaces allocated to them, at the same time they are complaining of its allocation. What more do they need?" she questioned.
"These people who were allocated spaces and have refused to come to the market are the problem. There is nothing like the allocation of spaces not done correctly. Those who are yet to get spaces, let them be given spaces."
Siz asked the deputy govenor to bring those people to operate within the market instead of giving such a directive.
"This means that we food vendors will be forced to go back to the street again to get customers since there will not be any proper flow of people or business.
Doreen Owuor representing the second-hand clothes, said they entered the market in 2022 when they were moved from the streets at Kisumu Boys, Agah Khan Hall and National Oil and we have been here all this while doing our business.
"We appreciate the city manager Abala's effort in removing us from the streets."
She said there is no need to stop everything that is going on within the market that will affect their business which is already catching up.
Owuor appealed to traders already allocated stalls to move in and occupy spaces that will in turn help spur the economy of Kisumu County.
On the 22nd of February, The Deputy Governor issued a directive suspending the construction and allocation of trading spaces until an audit is done by a cabinet sub-committee appointed by Gov Nyong'o to re-organize trading spaces within Kisumu City.
"After thorough deliberations and considerations of various factors, it has been unanimously agreed to suspend the ongoing construction activities related to the building of any stalls and makeshift at the Uhuru Business Complex".
He further noted in the letter that the decision was made with the Primary objective of ensuring enhanced coordination, control and effective management of the market space.
"Suspension of construction will remain in force until further directives are issued by the cabinet upon receipt and deliberations of the sub-commitee report".