Busia traders have welcomed the county government’s intent to construct over 300 modern kiosks within the Central Business District.
The traders who spoke in Busia town during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting involving the business fraternity, community based organizations, churches and Members of the County Assembly on Friday said the kiosks will transform the face of the Municipality.
The stakeholders unanimously agreed that modern kiosks will streamline business practices within the municipality, enhance revenue collection and free up encroached public land.
They noted that the uncontrolled mushrooming of illegal kiosks within the municipality had led to challenges in waste management and unprecedented risks posed by illegal power connections.
Endorsing the construction, Busia Business Association chairman Jairus Omondi said they are for the modernization project so long as the right format is used during transition.
Acting County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Housing and Urban Development John Mwami told the traders that the modern kiosks with parking and offloading space will change the face of the Municipality.
“We have 90 kiosks which will increase to over 300. This will create an additional space for more traders to operate in a conducive environment,” he said.
Busia County Assembly Planning, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry Committee chairman, Bernard Papa assured the traders that the project will be fast tracked for their benefit.
The one storeyed project will have kiosks measuring 3metres squared with a height of 2.8metres built in the first phase at Hospital Road and Social hall area followed by Green Garden and Anglican Church of Kenya.
The municipality has come up with a standardized model for the modern kiosks which has already been approved by the Municipality Board and it shall apply to all businesses.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
