Sand traders in Murang’a have decried low business and high cost of living.
Speaking to KNA Mr. Boniface Nyoike a sand trader in Kenol town Murang’a observed that despite the rampant growth of the town and many residential and business premises being constructed, sand business has been greatly affected and is no longer booming like in the past years.
The high cost of transportation coupled with the high cost of basic commodities has exponentially reduced the profit margin the traders used to get.
“The construction rate also decreased due to increase in cost of raw materials such as cement, bricks, and ballast among other essentials,” he added.
Lack of a mining field near Kenol town makes the traders drive miles in search of quality sand. This leads to extra expense of fuel that has also increased from Sh. 2,000 to Sh. 3,000 to and fro.
“Transportation from the source to the trading field currently costs Sh5,000 per lorry plus the government levy of Sh. 1000 per trip, Nyoike said.”
“Previously we were able to sell at least six to ten Lorries of sand each at Sh.13, 000-14,000” he said noting that currently even selling three lorries is sheer luck.
“On a good market day I sell only one or two lorries yet I cannot use my machines for any other trade but sand business, so currently they are grounded since business is low thus sustaining ourselves and our families has become difficult”
Another trader Mr. Gilbert Maina observed that he has been incurring losses and his business has only become worse just when it was recovering from the post Covid effects.
“Sand prices has remained constant even when fuel cost increased since there are few or no customers,” he said.
Lack of a proper sewerage system has also affected the traders who are calling on the town management to act with haste and restructure the drainage system as earlier proposed.
“Our trading field has been very unpleasant due to stagnant sewage which keeps customers away, needless to say it is a health hazard,” he said.
The traders called on the government to consider lowering the tax levy that was increased from Sh. 800 to Sh.1000 per trip to mitigate the high cost of transportation due to the influx in fuel prices.
