This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
On April 21, 2020, Kisumu County Government closed Kibuye market in an effort to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections. However, the new site chosen for wholesale traders has become a congested area, with traders and customers disregarding social distancing measures.
The new market site, located outside Moi Stadium, has become a crowded field, with traders and customers jammed together in total disregard for social distancing. Traders have between 6am and 1pm to do their trade, contributing to the scramble for space.
"At Kibuye market, we had a whole day to sell our goods, but now the time is limited and every trader and customer has to fight for space to buy or sell within the short period," said Joy Auma, a tomato seller.
Despite the presence of water tanks for hand washing, the congestion inside the market makes even the best of hand washing futile. Many traders and customers find it hard to keep their masks on due to the heat generated by overcrowding and the direct sun.
"There is no shade here. This is an open field and the direct sun makes the grounds burn; wearing a mask throughout is too uncomfortable," said one trader.
Customers and traders say Kibuye was better and safer, and that the new site might just be a coronavirus time bomb. The new market site is also located near the Kachok dumpsite, the main waste disposal site for the entire lakeside city, posing a greater health risk than coronavirus.
County Director of Communication Aloyce Ager admitted that overcrowding was becoming a major challenge at the new market site. According to Ager, all the traders operating at Kibuye market were allocated spaces within other markets in the estates, and that the new site near Moi Stadium was only allocated to wholesalers.
