Eldoret;Traders counting losses in county “Clean Up operation”!
“The exercise is aimed at cleaning up the town ahead of the 8The devolution conference slated for august”
County Excavators demolishing business signage within Eldoret CBD/Photo Courtesy
By Mahlon Lichuma
Traders in Eldoret are counting losses after county Government Excavators and bulldozers brought down illegal structures and business signage in what has been termed as a move to clean the town ahead of the 8Th devolution conference .
Some of the traders have hailed the move especially along the Bandaptai street saying it would expand the road leading to a number of business establishments along the busy street,
‘Previously it would be difficult to have a parking space along the street due to the manager garages but we are hoping business will thrive owing to county government plans to tarmac the busy bandaptai street”Said a trader
However a majority of the small traders were aghast to see county excavators bringing down some of their mabati shops ,
“The county government did not inform us upfront in form of a notice , we have lost our source of livelihood , its incongruous to bring down mabati shops demanding that all buildings within the town must be story buildings ”Said Chebet another trader
Some of the garage operators have faulted the county government for issuing a short notice ,
“The garages you see here support over hundreds of families , we have over 500 mechanics who earn a living out of these garages ,we do not know where next to go”Said John Odhiambo, a mechanic.
According to Francis Ouko Odhiambo,the Chairman Bodaboda Sacco at the Wilma Stage the move to work on the road expansion is a great effort as long as it won’t interfere with their business.
“We have already received the notice and are known to move and pave the way for the construction of the road, what we are worried about is that they don’t displace us,” said Ouko.
The County CECM Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development Anthony Sitienei who supervised the demolitions within the Eldoret Central Business district has clarified that traders were issued with notices in the month of February however none complied,
“The exercise is aimed at cleaning up the town ahead of the 8The devolution conference slated for august ,we have also brought down business many signage that have been hanging on the walls against the physical lands laws” Opined Sitienei
Overtime we have had a mushrooming of illegal structures in this town and therefore we are putting things in order.Added Sitienei
Some of the markets based within the CBD are likely to be demolished tonight .
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