Senate report uncovers market decay and mismanagement in Vihiga

President William Ruto with Mama Mboga Pretronila Karugani during the launch of the construction of the Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga County that will accommodate more than 2,000 traders.[PCS] A Senate probe has painted a grim picture of the state of markets in Vihiga County, exposing widespread infrastructural decay, insecurity, sanitation failures, and deep-seated frustration among traders. The findings are contained in a report by the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, which visited the county following a petition by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi The committee's visit was prompted by a dramatic incident in February 2024, when traders at Luanda Market - the county's largest - staged a six-week boycott, halting trade and refusing to pay taxes in protest over deplorable market conditions. The boycott triggered a fact-finding mission by Wajir Senator Mohamed Abass led committee which toured key markets across the county, including Mbale, Luanda, Serem, Majengo, and Esibuye. The report, tabled months after the visit, revealed a pressing need for reforms. Traders cited a lack of clean water, broken lighting, poor drainage, mounting garbage, and a general sense of insecurity. "Toilets are unusable, garbage skips overflow, lights are broken, and there's no water. This is not a marketplace - it's a ticking health and economic time bomb," lamented one trader during a public hearing in Mbale, as captured in the report. Insecurity was flagged as a major concern, with traders reporting rampant theft, assaults, and even deaths. In Luanda, some vendors said they stopped operating past dusk due to frequent muggings. Sanitation challenges were also pronounced. Most market toilets were reported to be dilapidated, blocked, or lacking running water - posing serious health risks. "The major challenge was that the toilets were not adequate to serve all traders and boda boda operators," the report noted. The Luanda boycott led to a sharp decline in revenue, prompting the county government to launch rushed interventions such as market cleanups, light installation, and toilet construction. However, the Senate report observed that many of these efforts were either incomplete or poorly executed. "The traders in Luanda Market acknowledged that the boycott lasted six weeks in order to compel the county government to act," read part of the Senate report. Despite the critical role these markets play in the local economy-contributing over Sh82 million in Own Source Revenue (OSR) between 2018 and 2024 - the report highlights systemic neglect. The county government, in its submissions, claimed to have invested more than Sh590 million in market-related projects since 2013. Yet, the Senate committee found that many of these projects were stalled, substandard, or poorly maintained. "There is no clear documentation of completed, ongoing, or failed projects. This raises serious questions about oversight and accountability," the report stated. Among its recommendations, the committee directed the county government to upgrade water and sanitation systems, install and maintain proper lighting, enhance security, improve waste management, and ease congestion through the construction of new sheds and multi-level structures. It also urged the inclusion of health clinics and childcare facilities and called for emergency preparedness infrastructure to be incorporated. The county government has been given six months to submit a progress report. "Markets are not just places of trade, they are the heartbeat of our local economies. We must invest in them like we mean it," said Senator Osotsi after the report was tabled. He has also raised concerns over inconsistencies in revenue figures submitted by the county. While Luanda Market alone reportedly generated over Sh35 million in just ten months, the total revenue from all county markets over a six-year period was only marginally higher at Sh82 million. "The math simply doesn't add up," Osotsi said, calling for a comprehensive review of the data presented.

Senate report uncovers market decay and mismanagement in Vihiga

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Senate report uncovers market decay and mismanagement in Vihiga

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