Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o has directed all traders and hawkers in the city to immediately move to the new ultra-modern Uhuru Business Park.
According to the county boss, the 5,000-capacity market built in collaboration with the national government has been vacant for a year after its completion.
The new market will accommodate traders from Lwang’ni, Akamba Line, Fontala, Konyando, KPLC, Back Street, Winmart, and Varsity Plaza who were displaced during the revitalization of Kisumu port and the upgrading of the railway line.
Governor Nyong’o said the city management is working on guidelines on how the traders will operate at the market saying no traders will be allowed on the streets.
He issued a stern warning to the traders who will violate regulations adding that they risk losing their business stalls.
“We will ensure all traders are settled inside the Uhuru Business Park. It has been confirmed that trading in the streets is not only unhealthy but exposes traders to various hazards. This will apply to all markets in the county,” he said.
While issuing a notice to cartels out to take up spaces at the market illegally, Nyong’o said the county government will use the biometric system to ensure that all the bonafide traders are settled.
“We will deal firmly with traders who have been harassing traders and allocating themselves stalls without following due process,” he said.
To ensure cleanliness at all the markets in the area, Nyong’o said mechanisms have been put in place for regular environmental cleanups with the collected garbage taken to the new waste to energy project site at Kasese in Muhoroni Sub-County.