Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho interacts with traders at the Kongowea Market at a past event. [Photo: Hassan Joho/ facebook.com]
A section of traders at the Kongowea market in Mombasa have defied the county government's order requiring them to relocate to pave way for the construction of a parking lot.The project is aimed at improving the state of the market.Led by the market's deputy secretary Richard Nyagongo, the traders criticized Governor Hassan Joho's government for asking them to relocate without allocating them an alternative spot to carry out their business.“As businesspersons we will not move out of this place unless the government gives us an alternative,” said Nyagongo, as quoted by Baraka FM. The traders said they have been running their businesses at the market since the era of former President Daniel Arap Moi, adding that it is unfair for the county government to send them away without offering a solution. Omar Masumbuko, a Nyali MP aspirant, defended the traders saying the county government should come up with a viable and long term plan for them before executing the said move. “This is a plan by the county government to displace the business people out of the market. The spaces allocated to the business people in the new market did not reach the actual beneficiaries. They were occupied by specific individuals,” he said. However, Mombasa director of communications Richard Chacha rubbished the trader's claims, saying a section of leaders eying different elective posts in August elections are to blame for the resistance. “No one will be moved to another area. This is a ploy by politicians during this campaign period. The county government has no such plan,” he said.