Uasin Gishu Trade County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Dr Phillip Chebunet has dismissed claims that strangers were allocated stalls at the near-complete 64 ultra-modern market in Eldoret.
A section of traders last week claimed they had been overlooked in the stall allocation, and priority given to individuals, some of whom were not traders.
But speaking to Uasin Gishu News, Chebunet said the stall allocation process was transparent and that it was done at the ward level. He also noted that the county executive and the MCAs agreed that every ward be allocated 20 stalls at the modern market.
“You can not call someone from the village a stranger. We agreed on that model of allocation, and traders in all the 29 wards are in agreement with that process. It’s only one ward that is complaining,” the county executive said.
How was vetting for 64 market stall allocations done?
Additionally, he said vetting was done at the ward level by representatives of various groups including persons with disabilities, the youth, women, a chief and a pastor.
Traders who were operating from the closed Champions Market in Eldoret had insisted that the county and the national government had promised to give them priority once the new market was completed, but that had not been implemented.
However, according to Dr Chebunet, traders who have already been allocated stalls at Kahoya and Kimumu/Bahati Markets were not considered for space at the new market.
“If you already have a stall at Kahoya or Kimumu market, you can’t get another one at the new market. The system cannot allow allocation of more than one stall to the same trader,” the trade CECM said.
“Everything was done transparently, and the majority of traders are happy. The rest is just noise from a few individuals,” he added.
Why Eldoret traders are unhappy with 64 market stall allocation
Last week, Huruma Member of County Assembly Kimani Wanjohi led some traders in expressing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the stalls were allocated.
Wanjohi claimed the stalls were given to individuals who were not traders and that they would eventually sell them.
“We know as a fact that those being given those stalls are not from around. Some are not even traders, and they will end up selling those spaces to actual businesspersons who have been overlooked,” the MCA said.
The 64 ultra-modern market is currently undergoing final touches before it is officially opened. President William Ruto had initially planned to commission the market during his recent tour of the North Rift region.
