Traders at Uasin Gishu Champions Retail Counting Losses Two Weeks After Closure
Hundreds of traders at the Uasin Gishu Champions Retail market are counting losses after the closure of the market by the County Government.
The market has been closed for the past two weeks.
The Uasin Gishu County Assembly committees on trade and devolution toured the market on a fact-finding mission
“On our fact-finding mission, we have established that most of the traders left their perishable goods at the retail market which are now rotting away leading to massive losses. The Situation at the Champions market is regrettable, many of the perishable goods are rotting, and no renovations have been undertaken since the closure of the market 13 days later,” ’Said Huruma Mca Kimani Wanjohi
He said they will be tabling their to the entire County Assembly for deliberations
and the information is shared with the rest of the public.
Teresia Kiloo one of the traders said she is forced to beg for food after the market was closed.
“Since the closure of the market I have not been able to fend for myself and I could not salvage anything from the market, I have been selling kales and now I have no place to do my business. I have been begging my fellow traders to provide me with some food just to keep me going,” she said.
Moraa Mwabegi Says “I am now starring at auctions since I took a loan and for the last two weeks I have not been working due to the closure of the market. I have been buying oranges from Marakwet farmer and I am not able to pay them,”
David Waiganjo UDA nominated MCA and a member of the Trade committee noted that traders were not issued with proper notice before the closure of the market.
“The county government could be misleading members of the public since the market has sufficient water and other amenities, no renovation works have taken place inside the market and hence the motive behind the closure of the retail market is still in limbo,” said Hon Waiganjo.
The Trade committee has also established that traders at the Kahoya market are trading in deplorable conditions as most of the amenities are overstretched due to the high number of traders forced to share the market.
The leaders and the traders at the market have implored the Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii to visit the market and sympathize with the traders who are behind the president’s clarion call for empowerment.
The Champions market was closed on the 18th Friday last week after skirmishes between County enforcement officers, traders, and street families that lead to the destruction of property and massive looting.
Repair works by the County Government roads department have been ongoing outside the retail market and most of the traders are awaiting the opening of the market since the 7 days issued for the Closure of the market have since lapsed.
Post Author
