Kisumu County government is in the process of enacting two major pieces of legislations in order to streamline business activities in the city and the Kibuye Wholesale and Retail market.
The legislation is also aimed at restoring sanity, law, and order at the troubled Kibuye Market, following weeks of tension and unease as traders complained of harassment and intimidation by a clique of people they termed as self-imposed leaders at the market.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday after meeting traders from the expansive Kibuye market, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives, Industry and Marketing Ms. Farida Salim said the two pieces of legislations would ensure that there is no vacuum in the management of market institutions and other business activities in the county.
She announced that the county was in the process of enacting two laws, namely, Trade and Markets Management Policy 2025 and County Markets Management Bill 2025 which will soon go to the participation stage, adding that the pieces of legislation would go a long way in resolving longstanding governance and operational challenges at the Kibuye market and address other gaps in the running of markets and other business entities.
Salim said the county cannot continue operating in an environment where the rule of law is sidelined and disorder is normalised, as no business could thrive under such conditions.
“As a county government, there is no vacuum in leadership. The way forward is to enact laws that cure these problems you have heard about. We now have the Trade and Market Policy 2025 and a County Market Management Bill ready for public engagement,” the CECM stated.
Salim observed that one of the biggest letdowns in the past was the lack of proper coordination between the city management, the county government, and the trade department, but the new legal framework now creates a County Marketing Coordination Committee, chaired by the Trade CECM, bringing together all market management stakeholders.
“There has been a missing link between the city management and the trade department. This law cures that through a broader coordination committee bringing together the city manager, market management chairpersons, enforcement teams, and all key stakeholders,” she revealed.
The CECM further noted that the City Management Board would no longer operate in isolation, since once the bill is approved by the public and passed by the County Assembly, the board would be required to work closely with the Department of Trade to ensure smooth running and coordination of all market and trade issues, leaving no gaps.
The restructuring would also streamline and expand market management committees to improve service delivery across Kibuye. The reforms come as the county moves to end alleged domination, bullying, and chaos that have been the synonymous with Kibuye Market for the last few weeks.
This follows recent complaints from traders, including accusations of assault and threats against them by long-time market chairperson Judith Matengo, popularly known as Nyaramba, whom they claimed was in office illegally.
Traders have since demanded that the county appoints an interim chairperson, arguing that Matengo’s term expired in April this year.
They explained that the leadership vacuum has led to the chaos being experienced at Kibuye market including a brutal assault of two traders on Monday allegedly by the said market leader.
Matengo was arrested and arraigned in court on Tuesday, where she faced three counts of creating a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, assault causing actual bodily harm, and taking part in unlawful assembly.
The suspect and her goons are alleged to have attacked a woman trader at the market on Monday and beat her viciously. The victim is said to be fighting for her life in hospital.
The accused was remanded after the State prosecutors opposed her release on bail or bond, arguing that Matengo’s return to the market would inflame an already volatile situation.
The prosecutors told the court that traders who had recorded statements were living in fear of intimidation or retaliation, noting that the accused is an influential figure within Kibuye Market’s leadership structure and that some witnesses had already expressed reluctance to cooperate, citing threats and pressure from Matengo’s allies.
The Prosecution further stated that the accused might use her position as market chairlady to evict or harass traders who had spoken out about the assault and that the environment at the market was still very hostile to the accused and her release on bond could trigger fresh clashes between rival factions within the market.
Matengo will remain in custody until November 24, as ordered by Kisumu Principal Magistrate Robert Oanda.
By Mabel Keya- Shikuku
