Traders in Kisumu who were relocated from Oile market have said they will only vote in 2017 if they are given an alternative place to do business.
Ever since they were evicted from Oile market they said, most of them had not found a new place to operate from.
They accused local leaders of not being concerned about their plight.
“Politicians have changed our plight to be a campaign tool every election year, this will not be tolerated this time round,” said David Okoth, who is a second hands clothes trader.
He said it was disheartening that the county government was not concerned about their plight.
The traders, in most days, can be seen at different areas around town and usually sell their goods from clothes and groceries along the pavements around Kisumu Boys High School round-about at night after county government workers have left.
But City Manager Doris Ombara said when she told hawkers to move away from the streets, a 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 city manager said the county government had established five alternative markets in which the hawkers and traders should be moving to and politicians should be able to explain this to them.
The five markets are Manyatta, Migosi, Kowino, Flamingo and Nyawita which are still empty as traders are adamant to move to areas where they are not able to get customers.