Scrap metal dealers pledge to lead fight to protect property

Section of Outer Ring Road vandalised. [Dennish Ochieng, Standard]

The next time citizens wake up to find street lamps missing and roads stripped of guard rails, they should think twice before blaming scrap metal dealers.

KnightScrap & Iron Metal Dealers Association said they are fighting vandalism, which is common and slowly getting out of hand.

Speaking during a meeting on Monday, October 31, the scrap dealers, said they pay Sh250,000 to obtain a license for each dealer and therefore they cannot engage in such criminal activities.

"Police raid our metal yards every day, and a legitimate dealer would not risk losing their costly license over a piece of government infrastructure," said Gladys Nyambura, secretary general of the association.

Evans Nganga, the chairman, said plans are underway to streamline the sector.

"We've set up an association and opened an office to streamline, collect data, profile and regulate scrap dealers. We welcome the public and government to join us to get rid of vandals," he said.