Misikhu market traders led by their chairman Edward Ndovu have faulted Bungoma County government for neglecting them by not improving the infrastructure on the market even after paying tax every year.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Ndovu said they have launched many complains to the relevant authorities of the County government but nothing has been done yet and failed to understand why tax is collected daily but the same can’t be reciprocated by providing them with conducive environment for working.
”We pay tax to the County government but our working environment here is pathetic, we can’t do business well, there are no stalls or sheds for traders and we were promised the first year the new regime took charge but up to now nothing has happened even after we had done a lot of visits in the relevant offices,” said Mr. Ndovu.
He said that they are running out of patience and soon they might never continue paying tax if the Ministry of Trade is not going to act on their grievances with speed.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr. William Musimbi who said the market lacks lavatories and clean water and that has really affected their working where traders have to go in the nearby bush for call of nature saying they might have an outbreak of waterborne diseases during this rainy season.
Mr. Musimbi emphasized the need for the County government to build the bus stage, decent bodaboda stage and stalls for traders to relieve them from the hot sun and rainy season hence helping them from being exposed to risks of selling their goods along the road.
Women traders led by Judith Juma appealed to both governments to help them access loans to boost their businesses citing that some traders from other areas get trade loans and wondered why it is never easy for them to get such loans.
