Traders in Turkana South Sub County have a reason to smile after the Department of Trade, Enterprise Development and Cooperatives launched market days to boost rural-based small-scale entrepreneurs.
The markets will also create employment opportunities for the residents of Turkana South. Tuesday of every week will be a designated market day for the Lochwaa a Ng’ikamatak areas.
Kalemung’orok and Katilu picked Thursday and Friday, respectively, as suitable market days for traders in the riverine belt to display their farm produce, livestock and household commodities at designated public spaces identified by the community.
Kainuk, an upcoming trading centre in the newly created Aroò Sub-County, settled on Sunday, to promote cross-border trade between Turkana and the neighbouring West Pokot County.
Speaking in Katilu, where he led stakeholders for public awareness meetings on market days, the Deputy Director of Internal Trade, Wilson Ejiye said the County Government will renovate Lokichar, Kalemng’orok and Katilu market sheds, as well as construct a new market in Kainuk town.
He added that the County will, in consultation with traders and area leaders, provide a centrally located place where goods will be displayed during market days.
“As agreed with residents, we will publicise the calendar of market days widely so that distributors and wholesalers bring a variety of commodities for sale,” he said.
Wilson Lokwawi, the Chairman of Kalemung’orok Livestock Sale Yard thanked the Department of Trade for initiating market day outreach programme, supported by USAID Livestock Marketing System (LMS).
He decried cases of traders opting to sell their livestock outside the sale yards, calling for concerted efforts to curb this lest it derails the market day initiative.
Damaris Kimani (sub-county trade development officer), Christine Lopua (Markets Officer), and Festus Lokucha (Ward Administrator, Lokichar) were present in the market days campaign.
Village Administrators; Dorcas Ereng’ (Katilu), Amos Ekeno (Korinyang’) and Mark Kotol (Kalemung’orok) were also involved in the exercise.
By Peter Gitonga
