Government appoints “Keep our markets open” taskforce

The government has started putting in place measures to ensure hygiene and food supply chain is maintained in market places.

A taskforce appointed by the Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia is expected to develop a self-sustaining, self-financing model for Covid-19 compliant market stalls and mobile market models within 30 days.

Dubbed “Keep our Markets Open”, the committee that is to advise and oversee implementation of measures aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19 in market places is to be chaired by Prof Suki Mwendwa.

“The terms of reference of the advisory committee shall be to develop a strategy for keeping our markets open in major urban centres throughout the country in compliance to public health standards,” the CS said.

.

Keep Reading

In the preparing of its report, the team is expected to solicit, receive and consider views from the public and interest groups.

Operating from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Prof Mwendwa and his team are to submit to the CS an interim report after three weeks and a final one at the end of the committee’s term.

“The cost incurred by the taskforce shall be based at the State Department for Housing and Urban Development,” he added.

Others appointed are Dr Francis Muraya, Kingsley Kipury, Charles K’onyango, Prof Izael Silva, Dr Lawrence Esho, Lilian Kieni, Ashley Toywa, Kennedy Mutisya, Joel Gichimu, Roy Otieno, Allex Makalliwa, Mathey Nyamu and Joseph Ayieko.

The closure of most markets in March has taken a beating on the economy with the Central Bank of Kenya indicating in May that upto 75 per cent small and medium enterprises were at risk of collapsing as at June.

Even with some counties allowing only open air markets to operate as traders adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines, livestock markets along the Kenya-Tanzania and Kenya-Somalia borders remain closed. However, government officials are closely monitoring Ilbisil market in Kajiado County.

The national government standardised guidelines require markets to be fumigated before traders set up their wares and to make use of the traders’ leadership during laying out of wares to allow for social distancing.