Fresh produce traders in Kimilili town are counting loses after their stalls were destroyed by county enforcement officers.
According to Jane Naliaka, a small-scale trader at the market said the incident happened at night during which goods of unknown value was destroyed.
Naliaka condemned the incident adding the enforcement officers should have just come in broad daylight but not at night.
She said that most small-scale traders have taken loans and others have gotten money from shylocks to enable them to pay contributions to chamas and buy food for their families.
“Now we are unable to do so since our stocks we had bagged hopes on has been destroyed by enforcement officers at night,” she noted
However, according to sources from the county government, the small-scale traders conducting their business in town have refused to move and occupy the new market recently opened by the county.
It was further noted that despite the enforcement officers pleading with them to relocate, they have been reluctant despite others doing so.
But in a quick rejoinder, Naliaka said traders occupying the new market duly applied, but were not allocated stalls.
“We cannot all of us occupy the new market because it’s small in size and again this place is strategic at the junction where customers can easily access,” she said.
However, the move by enforcement officers has been met with different reactions by the political leadership.
Kimilili Member of County Assembly-elect Christine Mukhongo condemned the move by the county enforcement officers to demolish stalls of the small-scale traders.
Mukhongo noted that the leadership is deeply disturbed by the action of the enforcement officers.
Area MP Didmus Barasa in a statement to the press condemned the incident stating that uplifting mama mboga was the UDA mantra during the campaigns adding it was wrong to target such a vulnerable group.
Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka expressed his extreme sadness at the ugly incident of destroying small-scale business stalls.
Lusaka called for patience as investigations are conducted to establish the cause of the incident more during the transition period.
Following the incident, the Governor immediately sent two county enforcement officers on compulsory leave pending investigations into the incident.
The two officers who earned disciplinary action are county enforcement officer Martin Sichangi and sub county enforcement officer Dennis Sangura to pave way for investigations.
The area MCA confirmed that plans were under way to engage all stakeholders to come up with a long-lasting solution to the plight of small scale traders in Kimilili town.
