Fish traders at Marenga Beach in Bunyala Sub County yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration accusing a foreigner of hampering their business.
The traders lamented that they were incurring losses to the tune of millions of shillings since the middleman joined the fish business last week. “This trader has come to purchase fish at the retail price rendering a number of traders jobless,” said Gladys Achola adding that the foreigner deals directly with the fishermen.
Achola added that the middleman from Nairobi has opted to purchase the commodity at Sh280 per kg contrary to the usual price of Sh250 offered by the local traders.
“This middleman has employed only two people hence rendering more than 100 fish traders and their employees jobless,” she said adding that their complaints to the BMU chairman have fallen on deaf ears.
The traders demanded for the removal of the BMU chairman Robert Anema stating that he has served for 13 years contrary to the required four.
However Francis Odongo, one of the fishermen condemned the traders for engaging in the demonstration that lasted for five hours without consulting them. “We want peace within the beach,” said the fisherman adding that the traders only have 10 percent share in the fish business.
Other fishermen interviewed welcomed the middleman arguing that his prices are fair and he had a right to trade anywhere within the country.
Bunyala Assistant County Commissioner Franklin Ongori successfully ordered the demonstrators to disperse as the National Government Administrative Officers and security agents address the matter with the BMU officials.
by Salome Alwanda
