Traders at the Kajiado marketplace are asking the Kajiado County government to clean up the garbage in the marketplace that has been piling up for months.
According to the traders, the county has been collecting levies from them on a daily basis yet it does not clean up the market.
Boniface Kaloki, a trader in the market said that the garbage situation has become an eye sore and has greatly affected their businesses as customers shy away from buying from them due to the waste.
“We are forced to spread our items atop gunny bags on the ground as the market constructed by the county government is small and congested. All of us can’t fit in there, we had to find other locations to sell our items from given the harsh economic times. They told us we can sell from this point but they don’t clean it up though they collect levies daily,” lamented Kaloki.
Another trader Ann Njeri reiterated Kaloki’s sentiments and added that the foul smell emanating from the waste turns the customers away. “A foul smell emanates from the garbage and flies can be seen hovering over it. This further puts off the customers who may be willing to buy from us,” said Njeri.
Njeri added that the biting drought has worsened the situation as cows having no pasture to feed on are wandering in the market looking for vegetables to feed on.
“There are cows wandering in the market nowadays and since no one is looking after them, they end up stepping on the clothes we are selling, further increasing our losses,” said Njeri.
Another trader, Winnie Nairesiai says that they are concerned about their health due to the flies that hover around.
“Cholera cases have been reported in Ongata Rongai recently and we fear that there will be an outbreak here too because of the garbage menace. We are urging the county government to act fast before there is an outbreak,” said Nairesiai.
By Diana Meneto and Edith Temba
