Nakuru county government is on the spot over poor sanitation in the Nakuru Wholesale market which is exposing traders to health hazards.
The traders continue to lament over what they term as failure by the county government of Nakuru to collect garbage in the market.
According to traders, the garbage has not been collected for one month now.
Traders especially those dealing with fruits such as avocados, green bananas and tomatoes are forced to endure a foul smell and flies that buzz around.
To make matters worse, with the ongoing rains the drainage system in the market has clogged posing health hazards.
“The county government should move fast and collect the garbage in order to create a conducive environment within which to operate,” the traders said.
The market is a source of livelihood to hundreds of people from Kenya and other East African countries.
Bananas from Uganda are sold in the same market while business people from Tanzania also deliver oranges and onions.
The condition of the market has led to inflation of commodities whereby the wholesale price of onions has shot from Sh50 per kilogram last month to Sh70 per Kg now.
Contacted for comment, Nakuru county public health officer Samuel King’ori said that the department of trade is directly responsible for markets.
However, Nakuru CeC for trade and industrialization Dr. Peter Ketyenya said that the delay in collecting garbage has been occasioned by the ongoing rains and the ongoing rehabilitation of Gioto dumpsite.
He said the garbage will be removed as he has already instructed those responsible to take action.