Malaba traders have decried the unhygienic environment on the market place, a condition which has forced them to operate along risky roadside reserves.

Speaking during the launch of Okima CBO group, the traders want the County Government to clean Okima market among other markets in the municipality to enable them operate in a conducive environment.

The traders led by Okima Market CBO chairperson Alice Ekirapa slammed the Malaba municipality for its failure to even create a single washroom to aid traders and long distance traders beside them contributing massively to the economy of the municipality and county at large.

‘Despite majority of traders here at Malaba dealing with fish traders and foodstuff items, the general sanitation of the market, and entire streets of Malaba municipality is wanting,’ said Ekirapa.

The sentiment that was echoed by Susan Karakacha said the market has become filthy due to poor sanitation and lack of ablution blocks, a condition that has led to traders easing themselves on bui
lding walls.

The traders now want the County Government of Busia to ensure a conducive working environment and also to enact a law which protects Kenyan businessmen at the border from the Ugandan counterparts who are now hawking door to door.

‘Let the County Government and Malaba municipality up their game by cleaning this market and supplying us with clean tap water with mobile toilets to save us from shame and impending disease outbreak. We can’t be operating in a non-conducive environment yet we pay taxes like other Kenyans,’ said Karakacha.

Busia County Assembly Environment committee member Hon. Mary Odongo agreed with traders, noting that the committee had visited the market and recommended for immediate upgrade.

According to Odongo, the cleanliness of the market should be addressed immediately by the municipality by collecting the accumulating garbage and providing water to traders amid the fear of an MPox outbreak.

Okima market which houses over 200 food vendors is plagued by unpleasant odor and p
ersistent flies emanating from uncollected garbage yet the municipality of Malaba receives a budget of Sh80 million and a similar amount from World Bank.

Either the traders and bodaboda operators jointly decried over unhealthy competition from Uganda with an influx of food items rendering Kenyan traders’ redundancy or leaving them counting loses from their unsold food.

Bungoma Deputy Governor who graced the occasion Jenipher Batiani urged members to remain focused on the primary mandate of the CBO for its success.

DG Batiani urged the County Government of Busia to move with speed and address the plight of traders who play a vital role in the economic growth of the border town.

‘Malaba cross border traders play a vital role in linking up traders and farmers. They have placed Kenyan names on the global market and hence should be treated with a lot of care,’ the DG said.

‘We must protect Kenyan businessmen from unlicensed hawkers who have occupied the entire place including estates. They are selling meat wi
thout the requisite licenses and they pay little attention to hygiene, yet our traders are busy at designated market places.’ She added.

Source: Kenya News Agency