[Kisii Governor James Ongwae in a past event. He has rolled out a plan to relocate hundreds of hawkers from CBD to Daraja Mbili market. Photo/Hivisasa.com]
Plans are underway to relocate hundreds of hawkers flooding downtown Kisii, capital area.
Many of the small scale traders will be taken to Daraja Mbili market once it has would be fully refurbished, town administrative boss Weslay Saisi said.The open air market, the second largest in Western Kenya after Kibos is currently is undergoing renovation at a cost of Sh400 million .
On Saturday ,Saisi said the upgraded market is set to ease congestion in the middle of the town
Mapping had been done and the contractor hired to do the construction has since moved to the sight.
“What we are witnessing now are chaos as several traders are scrambling for space along the road reserves thus exposing themselves to accidents. Besides accidents, we now have the traffic menace which we have to deal with on a daily basis,” he said.
He said that the County Government was also planning to do more markets in peripheral areas as part of the larger plan to open up more space for business.
Mr Saisi defended the County Government’s move saying sanity was good for proper town management.
He said that the improved security plus the provision of street lights were reason why many hawkers preferred operating from the central business district.
The town’s population currents stands more than 300,000 residents.
“Kisii town’s has been on the upward trajectory and this calls that we match it with expansion of the space for business operations,” the deputy town chief said.
It’s out of the conducive environment provided by Kisii County Government that most businesses have warmed up to the 24 hour operations fueled by proper street lighting.
Mr Saisi said that the County Government has also made a number of kiosks that are being let out to youth starting businesses.
Mr Saisi said that with the new Daraja Mbili market would boost the sale of fresh agricultural foods grown in the County.