County government of Tana River County has officially commissioned the Garsen market which has been sitting idle for the past three years since it was completed.
The market has been dormant in the hands of the contractor, who was claiming unpaid dues from the administration. As a result, traders were forced to squeeze within Garsen town, causing congestion.
“We could not fit in town alongside public service vehicles and trucks. It was unbearable that at times traders fought over space,” said Alice Mukami.
Social distancing of traders
With its commissioning, the traders acknowledge that it will be easier observe the social distancing of traders in the market, unlike the previous situation when everything was jammed up, creating an environment unfit for business.
“Right now you can see matatus are on their side, grocers on their zone, and those selling clothes within their defined stalls. This kind of definition in the market is what we were yearning for,” said Ethan Muli.
Among the needs that ment to be met on the market is electricity. Traders also raised concern over unoccupied stalls, seeking a clear reason as to why the administration did not allocate them alongside other businesses to traders. Some of the traders who have since paid for the shops accused the administration of planning to shortchange them.
Review of criteria
“Some of us paid to be given these stalls, while others had to part with up to Sh50,000, but we are now told that the allocation of the shops was biased and has to be reviewed,” said Abdi Mohammed.
County Trade Executive, Yahya Barrow said the administration is still reviewing the criteria used to allocate the shops to ensure ethnic balance. The administration will also embark on the construction of a perimeter wall around the market to ensure the pupils in the school adjacent to the market are not affected by its operations. He noted that the market improve revenue earnings in the county by up to 35%.
“There was an issue raised by the residents that most of those seeking to occupy the premises were non-locals, which we thought we should look into. However, that does not mean we will throw all of them out. We shall ensure equity,” he said.
