This archive report was first published on 8 August 2020.
On Saturday, a protest by traders in Kakamega County disrupted activities at the county headquarters as Governor Wycliffe Oparanya prepared to receive Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Devolution counterpart Eugene Wamalwa.
Published on August 8, 2020, the protest was triggered by the demolition of kiosks constructed along a road leading to the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, where CS Kagwe was expected to make his daily briefing on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The angry traders blocked the main entrance to the county headquarters, demanding to be addressed by Governor Oparanya, and lamenting that the county government had not provided them with any masks and sanitisers at the markets.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala tried to calm the group of traders, who accused county enforcement officials of crippling their livelihoods.
County enforcement officials eventually cleared the protesters from the main gate as Governor Oparanya, accompanied by CS Wamalwa and Mr Wangwe, headed to Mumias West in a convoy of vehicles.
Mr Kagwe arrived shortly later, but calm was restored after Governor Oparanya and his team left for Mumias town.
