Busia Women Representative Ms. Catherine Omanyo has gifted over 50 roadside vendors with umbrellas to cushion them from the harsh weather effects of the impending El Nino, as warned by the Metrological Department.
Women food traders from Bumala market, Butula market, Soko Mjinga market, and Works Market in Busia Town expressed jubilation after having an expected guest sit down for a bite with them before extending her support in their hustle with umbrellas.
Speaking to the press when issuing the umbrellas, the legislator noted that she targets 1000 women in the first phase, acknowledging the efforts made by women in Busia to earn a living amidst hard economic times.
The legislator noted that she will continue supporting women’s empowerment and a transformative agenda in the county to counter the high poverty index. “They say that empowering a woman is like planting a seed that grows into a fruitful tree for the entire community,” said Omanyo.
“I had the pleasure of spending time with women engaged in small-scale trade at the Bumala market and roadside traders along Korinda-Busia town, where I distributed umbrellas to the real Mama Mbogas. The umbrellas are meant to help Mama Mbogas cope with the challenges of the ongoing rains and scorching sun,” she said.
In recent days, roadside hawking of roasted maize, eggs, sausages, and other foodstuffs, mainly vegetables, has become the norm in Busia Town, prompted by high rates of unemployment.
This has, in essence, made it possible for travellers to sit down in an eatery to grab a bite of their favourite snack as they move on with their businesses.
Ms. Monika Akoth, who has been roasting maize at Bumala Market, lauded the legislator for demonstrating the spirit of Bottom-up Economic Agenda by giving priority to Mama Mbogas and Mama Choma as opposed to other leaders.
“Omanyo has demonstrated what a true leader looks like; she has decided to embrace us real hustlers, cushioning our businesses,” said Akoth.
Her sentiments were echoed by Ms. Lucy Oduor and Ms. Eunice Nafula at Soko Mjinga Market, who noted that they now have a reason to walk up in the morning with no fear of any weather pattern.
According to Omanyo, it was time for the County Government of Busia to embrace roadside vendors who cannot afford to pay for kiosks or stalls in the market due to the nature of the business they engage in.
“We must learn to live with reality. We have of late witnessed a steady rise in street food vendors that seems to be taking over the town owing to the severe economic times we are living in, as most people cannot afford the amount of money being charged at normal kiosks or hotels,” she said.
By Absalom Namwalo
