This archive report was first published on 11 November 2021.
Published on November 11, 2021, a row is brewing in Kisumu's Uhuru Business Complex market ahead of Friday elections as traders dispute how they will occupy the new market.
The market was built by the national government to accommodate traders who were evicted to allow for the refurbishment of Kisumu Port.
A section of Kisumu Members of County Assembly (MCAs) led by Milimani ward MCA Seth Kanga wants the planned exercise put on hold to allow for consultations, accusing national government administrators of organizing the balloting without involving the county leadership.
“The planned balloting is being organized without the involvement of the office of the Governor and City Manager,” Kanga said, urging for consultations to forestall the fallout from the traders.
He argued that the market had already been handed over to the county government and anything concerning the market should originate from the devolved unit.
“This is ridiculous, markets are devolved and already it is in the custody of the city, why are they again being bypassed by the national government administrators,” Kanga asked.
Regional Commissioner Magu Mutundika announced last week that more than 1000 traders will be subjected to balloting to get spaces at the market without hue and cry.
“There is a committee that vetted the traders’ and only the genuine ones will be considered,” Mutundika said.
However, Railways ward MCA David Arao questioned the completeness of the list containing the names of the traders, saying many traders who were affected by the demolitions are unsuspiciously missing.
“The list must be cleaned, we want genuine traders who were affected by the demolitions,” Arao said.
Traders like Joanes Mathembo, who had his structure demolished and his name missing from the list, are crying foul, saying they have tried to have their names fixed in the list in vain.
