Traders at Sibuoche Market in West Kanyamkago Ward, Uriri Constituency in Migori County, have complained of a serious rise of insecurity in the area, which they blamed on lack of electricity.
While expressing their grievances this morning, the traders led by Mr. Lazarus Obewa, said that for three months now, they have been forced to close their business, as early as 5pm, due to insecurity issues triggered by intense power blackouts.
“Worst of all, our colleagues dealing in electrical gadgets have totally closed their businesses because their lines no longer have reliable electricity flow,” rued Mr. Obewa.
He lamented that most traders have registered huge losses due to burglary, where their shops have been broken into at night, and their stock stolen, adding that some traders have completely lost hope of power re-connection, as there are no clear attempts to reinstate the electricity in their shops.
Their efforts to reach-out to the power officials have fallen on deaf ears with no good response coming from the local power office. “We are completely disappointed even with our leaders who are not helping at all to address this issue,” he said.
Mrs. Angeline Adhiambo, whose shop was broken into last week, cried that with the schools opening next week, she has lost hope of admitting her son for senior secondary education, due to lack of school fees.
Angry traders sent an appealed to the area Member of Parliament, Mr. Mark Nyamita, to help them follow-up the matter with a hope that some normalcy in electricity flow may be witnessed as soon as possible.
They also called on the MP to address the issue of skewed electrification, where some parts of the Ward are not in the map of receiving power in the near future.
Sibouche Modern Market in Uriri Constituency, whose construction is ongoing, is one of the gazatted ESP Markets in Migori County and the residents expects to witness a reliable power flow to the facility and the rest of the shops, to help boost the region’s economy.
By George Agimba
