By Jabali Media
The Kisumu City management has downplayed an incident where some traders from Kibuye market caused a stir during a public participation exercise at the Mama Grace Onyango Social Hall, on Tuesday.
The exercise was on streamlining of the policy guidelines and operations within Kisumu markets.
Representatives from all the over 40 markets within the County were invited for the meeting. The meeting went on amid chants and blowing of vuvuzelas, by some Kibuye traders.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Eunice Adhiambo Nyaramba, chairperson of Kibuye market accused Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga of reportedly trying to impose a new leader, against a court order she was seen brandishing.
“I am the one who was elected by traders to represent them at the Kibuye market. According to the constitution, traders are supposed to elect their leaders. The leaders are not supposed to be imposed by the County or City management,” she stated.
“These traders you see here love me and they are the ones who elected me,” she added.
In a swift rejoinder, Charles Omollo, Kisumu City Deputy Manager said the commotion by Kibuye traders was a small hitch, on the backdrop of a successful engagement.
“What has happened is just a small hitch. A section of traders from Kibuye came but they were not intending to participate constructively. But we can say that our progress has been good. We want to assure the market fraternity that this document is going to streamline the way markets are operating,” he said.
“This document is going to streamline the way we conduct elections within markets. We do not want to handpick leadership within markets.”
Eunice Nyaramba during her address to the press. Photo/JM
His sentiments were echoed by Anthony Kwache, chairperson of the Kisumu Central Traders and Waste Management CBO.
“Today the city organized a public participation on a policy regarding market leadership and market management. It is a well drafted document, but then some people didn't take their time to listen to what is in the document, as some of us had already taken their time to know the importance of that document,” he stated.
However, Nyaramba vowed to stay put until the end of her term in office, urging the City Manager and the County government of Kisumu to focus on more pressing issues, such as sanitation at the Kibuye market.
