Traders of Daraja Mbili Market in Kisii County are counting losses after their stalls were yesterday demolished by the County Askaris in a move reportedly aimed at combating Covid 19 pandemic.
Daraja Mbili Market plays host to over 2,000 traders from South Nyanza Region, Tramsmara Region and Bomet County on Mondays and Thursdays which are market days.
John Okenda, a merchant who has been trading at the market for over 40 years faulted the County government for pulling down their stalls without notice leading to some of their commodities disappearing.
Mary Moraa lamented that she lost her source of income to fend for her children as she was depending on her market business.
Charles Matara a retailer at the Market was stupefied that even after the directive from The Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya allowing sale of food, ironically in Kisii, tracks were being barred from offloading food.
A devastated Kisii County Nominated Member of County Assembly, Joyce Ombasa complained that County’s Askaris should not have forcefully confiscated commodities from traders because food was classified as an essential commodity by the National Government.
Ombasa advocated for traders to be allowed to operate in stadia and school playgrounds within the county to allow for social distancing.
By Clinton Nyamumbo and Jane Naitore
