A section of traders Kikopey trading centre have decried the Wednesday closure of foods kiosks by the county's Public Health and Sanitation department saying it has impacted negatively on their livelihoods.
A majority of the traders who spoke to this writer on Thursday said the move although timely, had locked them out of business making them struggle to make ends meet.
They called on Governor Kinuthia Mbugua to rethink the directive, further promising to meet all the operating standards before resuming duty.
“This is where I get the money to fend for my family and the three days I have been out of business has been real hell to me, the county has to do something,” pleaded Sarah Wamboi.
The single mother of three said that all her children depend on the small earnings she gets from her nyama choma business at the centre which is along the Nakuru-Naivasha highway.
She accused some of her colleagues for not following the laid down rules hence the crackdown.
“Personally, I believe we have carried the burden of some of our ignorant counterparts. They don’t want to adhere to the basic operating standards and when an operation is mounted, even some genuine operators like me are not spared,” she said.
However, Kikopey Traders’ Association chairperson Moses Kibor advised his fellow traders to get all the relevant documents before accusing the government of harassing them.
He rubbished claims by a section of his colleagues and instead hailed the action by the health department saying it shows the county government’s commitment in ensuring that both residents and visitors are served in a healthy environment.
“We are only concerned with our own selves but are not ignorant of the effects a sudden health predicament can have on people visiting Kikopey. Those complaining are simply being self-centered,” he said.
He said he had held a meeting with the health team prior to the crackdown and that he had cautioned everybody at the centre against flouting and ignoring the health operating measures.
The department, led by its chief officer Samuel King’ori on Wednesday closed down several open air hotels, food kiosks and eateries at the centre which had not adhered to the minimum operational measures.