The County government of Kisumu is now blaming hawkers for the filth within the central business district (CBD).
The city manager Doris Ombara accused hawkers on Oginga Odinga Street of littering the city, easing themselves in the drainages and blocking other traders from operating as expected.
The city manager who spoke to journalists in her office in Kisumu, accused hawkers of dropping ‘flying toilets’ into rubbish bins installed within the town by the City Management and County Government for garbage collection.
Other areas where the culprits have been messing up are dark streets, abandoned buildings, congested stalls and open sewers.
Ombara said the cleaners have been complaining to her about the challenges they face in cleaning the city. They collect human waste wrapped in polythene bags and placed inside the bins on a number of occasions, she said.
The city manager said this was not only unfair to the cleaners but was also exposing them to diseases. She said the business community was accusing her of being lenient to hawkers.
Ombara noted that managers of supermarkets on the busy street have complained to her over interference by bodaboda operators who park their motorbikes at their entrances thereby inconveniencing customers.
“These people pay land rates, licences, electric and water bills, but just when they want to make profits, hawkers just put their wares at the entrance of these shops. This is unfair to the shop owners,” said Ombara.
She said her attempts to drive hawkers from the CBD are usually fought hard or frustrated by politicians. She urged the politicians to work together with her to bring sanity to the city. “The other day, I told hawkers to move away from the streets, and another politician told them to stay put.
Politicians for their selfish interests should not incite the public against issues that are beneficial to them,” said Ombara.
The county government wants the hawkers to move to the five markets namely; Manyatta, Migosi, Kowino, Flamingo and Nyawita to conduct their businesses. However, they are still empty as traders are adamant to move to the markets saying they will not get customers.