Governor defends eviction of hawkers from Kisumu town centre


[Source: The Standard, by Dalton Nyabundi]

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has defended plans to evict hawkers from the central business district ahead of November 2021 African cities summit.

Nyong’o said the county had secured 23 acres parcel from Kenya Railways for the establishment of a market to house the hawkers.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the county’s new Health Executive Professor Judith Miguda-Attyang and county attorney Victor Obondi on Tuesday, the governor said the relocation was aimed at sanitising growth.

“Hawkers are on the streets because of lack of proper establishments for their operation and we are going to offer them just that,” he said.

He said even the roadside market near the main bus park had only thrived and posed public health and other risks due to halted plans to expand existing Jubilee, Kibuye and Otonglo markets.

The donor-funded projects, he said, had delayed due to obstacles mounted by the traders but would soon be completed to offer space for those operating from the roadsides.

Nyong’o defended move to demolish temporary roadside structures to pave way for city beautification, saying there was a need for order.

Nyong’o, however, warned cartels duping traders into erecting such structures with a view of collecting money from them. He said populist self-interests would not be tolerated, adding that provision of such services was the sole mandate of the city manager.

Traders evicted from Kenya Railways land to pave way for the expansion of the Kisumu port are among those eyeing space at the new market after running losses.

[Full article: The Standard, by Dalton Nyabundi]


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