KISUMU, Kenya, Nov 11 – A row is brewing in the new Uhuru Business Complex market in Kisumu ahead of Friday elections by traders on how they will occupy the new market.
The market was built by the national government to accommodate traders who were evicted to allow for the refurbishment of Kisumu Port.
A section of Kisumu Members of County Assembly (MCAs) led by Milimani ward MCA Seth Kanga wants the planned exercise put on hold to allow for consultations even as they accused the national government administrators of organizing the balloting without involving the county leadership.
“The planned balloting is being organized without the involvement of the office of the Governor and City Manager,” he said urged for consultations to forestall the fallout from the traders.
He says already the market had been handed over to the county government and anything concerning the said market should originate from the devolved unit.
“This is ridiculous, markets are devolved and already it is in the custody of the city, why are they again being bypassed by the national government administrators,” he asked.
Kanga says as leaders they do not oppose the resettlement of the traders but the two governments must work as a team for a smooth transition.
Nyanza regional commissioner Magu Mutundika last week announced that more than 1000 traders will be subjected to balloting to get spaces at the market without hue and cry.
Mutundika says the market has been segmented into seven sectors to accommodate all the traders, ranging from mutumba, fresh vegetable produce, fish traders amongst others.
“There is a committee that vetted the traders’ and only the genuine ones will be considered,” said Mutundika.
Railways ward MCA David Arao, whose ward is hosting the market says the list containing the names of the traders is not complete.
Arao says many traders who were affected by the demolitions are unsuspiciously missing in the lists.
“The list must be cleaned, we want genuine traders who were affected by the demolitions,” he said.
The county government was expected to build stalls in the market but that has not been done with MCA Arao questioning the hurry to take traders into the market.
“How will they trade in an open hall, can’t the county government be allowed to fulfill its obligation before traders can be allowed in,” he said.
Joanes Mathembo, a trader whose structure was demolished and his name is missing from the list says he has tried to have his name fixed in the list in vain.
“I don’t know where to turn to, nobody is listening to my issue yet spaces are being given out tomorrow,” he said.
Mathembo who hails from Makueni County says he has been doing business in Kisumu for the last 20 years and should be considered for a stall at the new market.
Other traders too are crying foul after their names missed getting into the list that was published in the local dailies.
