Traders of Makongeni Market in Thika, Kiambu County have taken to the streets to demonstrate over the charges levied by the county government thus paralyzing business and transport activities on Thika and Garrisa roads respectively.
The traders said that they are against the levies which they termed as too much; leaving them with little in their pockets to cater for their personal needs and families.
They said that despite the county government collecting much from them the market in an undesirable state where the roads leading to the market are poor with facilities.
They have stated that the charges are cumbersome and unfair to their business and also not well defined.
According to their spokes lady Jane Wangari the county government has become greedy and has now shifted its attention to the people earning less.
She insisted that they are not going to leave the road until the county government withdraws its directive for this charges.
“The county government is charging very much for our orders. We are supposed to pay thirty shillings per order. They are charging thirty shillings per a sack of potatoes which is not what we are used to and this is becoming too much thus we have decided to take to the streets until the county government withdraws this directive,” Wangari exclaimed.
The traders have now closed down Garrisa road by lighting bonfires and the police are on site engaging them causing massive traffic.