Traders in Garissa operating in an open air market have opposed the Governor's proposed relocation of the market which its construction has not started.
Area governor Ali Korane while addressing the traders after touring the market and the proposed new site said time has come for traders to be relocated to a new saying that the move was for their own safety.
He said County of Garissa will soon embark on clearing the sprawling Orahey market and relocate the traders to a new one a few meters away.
Currently close to 500 traders are congested along the road making it difficult for free flow of traffic in the market coupled with animal menace.
He however said that the sensitive exercise will be done in a procedural manner where the traders themselves will be asked on which best way to go about carrying out the exercise.
"We want traders to form committee so that we involve them before removing them from Orahey, many traders have been hit by speeding vehicles because the market is so congested. We are appealing for your cooperation in this noble exercise,” Korane told the traders.
According to the traders, the plan to move them is a scheme by the county to chase them away from their usual premises which they say they have been operating for a long time although the governor was quick to assure them that no one was interested in flashing them away.
The traders led by their chairman Paul Chege are however opposed the move to relocate them to alternative area accusing the county leadership of having ill motive in the new plan also questioned where they will operate as the construction is going on.
" The traders will not move to the proposed market because the place is not accessed and they are used to sell their commodities in the open air market were everyone can pass and buy whatever they want." said Chege.
"The place you see me here I took it over from my mum some 10 years ago. I use the profit I get to feed my family as well as pay their school,” Lilian said.
She said if the county government is honest they should take them to a place near the town with adequate security adding that most of traders in the market are people from humble background.
Traders mostly women sell their goods that includes vegetables, grass, cloths amongst other merchandise at an open air market hence the name 'Orahey', while many of them sit with their products without anything to shield them from the scorching sun others have erected stalls on the roadside.