Market now closed to stop spread of disease

Traders at Soko Posta Market in Busia town were yesterday turned away by county enforcement officers in an effort to limit spread of coronavirus.

The market is the largest in the county and hosts traders from Uganda every Monday and Thursday.

County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri had on Sunday said there was no plan to close the market unless the government issued a new directive on the same.

The closure of the market comes two days after some ward reps petitioned Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s administration to close all trading centres and mortuaries in the county.

In Mombasa, traders at the Kongowea wholesale market are yet to move to Tononoka grounds.

The traders are to be relocated to Tononoka Grounds and other open spaces on Mombasa island, where they will be required to sell their merchandise on raised platforms while adhering to social distancing.

 Close down

This follows a directive issued last week by the County Emergency Response on Covid-19, chaired by Governor Hassan Joho, that the wholesale market close down for 30 days.

A spot check by The Standard yesterday at Tononoka Grounds showed that demarcation of the soccer pitch that will serve as an open-air market is ongoing.

At the Likoni Ferry crossing channel, National Youth Service personnel and volunteers are directing commuters to wash hands and sanitise before boarding ferries.

Meanwhile, Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana has ordered all bars and entertainment joints to shut down to prevent spread of coronavirus.

Speaking in Hola yesterday, Mr Godhana also instructed the police to arrest anybody found defying health measures issued by the government.

[Ignatius Odanga, Philip Mwakio, Hassan Barisa]