Isiolo market traders unhappy with 'hurried' relocation plan

A section of the Isiolo market. Traders have opposed plans by the county government to relocate them to the Isiolo Stadium eight months to pave way for the rebuilding the market. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  VIVIAN JEBET

What you need to know:

  • Last week, the county Trade department addressed some of the traders who later agreed to vacate their structures.
  • The county government intends to demolish their structures and relocate them to the Isiolo Stadium for eight months as the new market is completed.
  • But the traders have argued that the county government gave them a short notice to vacate.
  • The traders’ treasurer Elijah Ekuamba who said they have already gone to court to block the demolition of the market.

Traders operating at the Isiolo market have cried foul over plans by the county government to relocate them to pave way for the building of a modern market.

They have also opposed plans by county government to demolish their structures and relocate them to the Isiolo Stadium for eight months as the new market is completed.

Last week, the county Trade department addressed some of the traders who later agreed to vacate their structures to enable construction work to begin

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The chairman of the traders, John Ntuiti, said they will not heed the decision reached last week by the county government and a section of traders to relocate to the stadium.

MASSIVE LOSSES

The traders said they would incur massive losses once they vacate the premises they are currently operating from.

“We were surprised by the decision to relocate us without consultation,” said Mr Ntuiti.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the traders’ treasurer Elijah Ekuamba who said they have already gone to court to block the demolition of the market.

They argued that the county government gave them a short notice to vacate.

“We read mischief in the way the intended demolition is being hurriedly done towards the election period. We fear the current government does not have time to complete the project,” said Mr Ekuamba.

However, Chief Officer in charge of Trade and Industrialisation Hudson Kinyua accused Governor Godana Doyo’s political opponents of opposing the plan to rebuild the market and misleading the traders with the intention to discredit the current administration.

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