By Michael Wesonga
KENYA: Small traders in Uasin Gishu County have faulted the Government’s move to withdraw their s in order to reorganise the central business district.
The traders operating on road reserves have been given a notice to vacate. The county management has withdrawn all occupation licences issued to the traders early this year.
“Notice is hereby issued to all structure owners operating on the road reserves that the Temporary Occupation Licence is hereby withdrawn,” read the notice in part signed by the county interim secretary Mr Fredrick Wakofula.
The 14 days’ notice requires the removal of structures and vacation from reserves pending Government execution at the traders cost.
“The notice specifically targets vendors that have illegally encroached on pathways and pavements of the CBD causing unnecessary commotion and disorder and not all of them,” Mr Wakofula told The Standard on phone.
The operators are, however, adamant in complying with the notice and have vowed to continue with operations regardless of the consequences.
“It is unfair for the county government to ambush us with such a notice despite having paid more than Sh6 million licence fees for the whole year,” the chairman of the operators, Martin Njuguna, complained.
They questioned the rationale of collecting the monies in the first place only to follow it shortly with a vacation notice.
Drastic measures
“It is very irrational to be evicted by the same government that has licenced our operation in the designated areas without providing alternative sites for relocation,” he argued.
Flanked by other officials Eunice Chepkoech, Brigit Chepkemboi and Jane Kimani they vowed to resist any attempts forcing them out of town.
Jane Kimani, an M-Pesa shop operator, faulted the governor for employing such drastic measures without consulting the affected stakeholders.
“We have always been turned away by the governor for no apparent reason every time we have sought his audience,” she complained.
