The County Government of Uasin Gishu is working on modalities to create more space for fruit and fresh produce vendors operating in Eldoret town.
The County Trade Chief Executive Committee Member (CECM) Dr. Emily Kogos said this would end the inconveniences that the hawkers undergo while selling their merchandise in areas that were not designated for their trade.
She also directed that county officials give the vendors back the trolleys that were confiscated earlier in the week and allow the traders operate freely in the next seven days as the county was sorting out the issues.
Speaking in a meeting held at the county headquarters and attended by among others the County Secretary Edwin Bett, the CECM said the county administration was committed to realizing a balance of various businesses amongst traders, and called on them to follow and stick to all county laws and regulations for the smooth operation of their businesses.
According to Dr. Kogos, the current market policy does not allow the availability of trolleys inside the county-classified retail markets, noting that it has been causing obstruction and creating barriers to other businesses within the markets.
“There’s a need to have these operators form their own SACCO as fruit vendors for the purposes of ease of management,” said Huruma Member of County Assembly ( MCA) Peter Wanjohi during the meeting convened to resolve the numerous conflict between the fruit vendors and county security enforcement officers.
Acting Trade Chief Officer Kipleting Mengich, Director Enforcement Cosmas Kerich and fruit vendor’s representatives were present during the meeting that also resolved to have the markets branded to make it easy for clients to locate products they were in need of with ease.
By Kiptanui Cherono
