Traders at Benga market in Homa Bay town constituency are now worried of imminent closure of their market due to poor sanitation.
The traders observed that the market lacked toilets and users have been forced to answer calls of nature in the nearby river and bushes, exposing them to dangers of contracting diarrheal diseases as a result of poor hygienic standards.
The market has been in the same state for several years with promises from the county government which were not fulfilled.
The market centre that hosts about 500 traders, over 200 rental houses and a number of business premises has no latrines to serve the entire population within the trading centre. It has only a private two door pit latrine which is always locked by the owner.
The business operators said due to lack of sanitation facilities at the market, they were endangering their lives since they dispose human wastes into the river where the residents get water for domestic use.
According to Evans Odero who is a trader, the market has been faced with serious sanitation crisis for many years and that is why majority of their children always suffer from diarrheal illnesses.
Speaking to KNA, the market Chairperson Joshua Olela regretted that the county government of Homa-Bay has not addressed the situation but always gave them false promises despite several complaints they have lodged over the matter.
Olela said that apart from pit latrines, traders also decry lack of clean water supply in the market sheds.
At the same time, Olela lamented that some county government officials dismantled the solar lights that were erected in the market to replace them with electricity which has never worked.
Homa Bay County government allocated a total of Sh300, 000 to a contractor for the construction of a latrine this financial but the work has not yet started.
By Alloyce Kagame/Davis Langat
