A group of traders in Kisii County has opposed plans by the county government to relocate traders from the town centre.
Kisii County Traders and Residents Association led by Walter Kiondi said the county government is planning to eject hawkers from the town centre and relocate them to Daraja Mbili market.
Kiondi said the call to relocate the hawkers will destroy the sole source of livelihood of hundreds of traders. According to him, the market has limited space saying the market is too small to accommodate all of them.
“We will not allow the county government to just decide one day to relocate such a big group of traders to Daraja Mbili market where there is limited space,” he said
“How can we make Kisii County a 24-hour economy when we eject hawkers from the town centre?” aske Kiondi.
The county government made the plans to relocate the hawkers following a request by the Kisii Business Community asking Kisii Governor James Ongwae to eject the hawkers from the town centre.
The county government had said the exercise will be conducted to relocate the hawkers who are operating along highways and unsafe areas within Kisii town in a move aimed at decongesting the town and to ensure the town is clean and hawkers are protected.